Mob killing: We beat UNIJOS student to recover missing phone – Suspects

Four individuals apprehended in relation to the brutal murder of Ibrahim Mbaya, a Political Science student at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), have confessed to their involvement in the mob attack that resulted in his death. They stated that they assaulted him in an attempt to retrieve a missing mobile phone that was allegedly stolen by the victim.

The suspects made their admissions on Tuesday while being presented by the Plateau State Police Command in Jos.

Mbaya, who was commonly referred to as "Ibee," was reportedly tortured to death on Sunday at an off-campus residence located behind the City of David area along Ring Road in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, following accusations of stealing an iPhone.

This incident has incited widespread outrage throughout Plateau State and beyond, particularly after a viral video surfaced showing the victim being repeatedly beaten with planks and canes, ultimately leading to his death from the injuries inflicted during the attack.

During the police presentation, one of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, aged 30, acknowledged that he struck the victim with a wooden plank, asserting that the assault was intended to compel him to reveal the location of the missing phone.

He stated, "On July 26, my cousin visited me and informed me that his phone was missing. He mentioned that they had contacted the deceased, who then came to the apartment.

"When we interrogated him, he claimed the phone was at Naraguta Hostel near a tree. We went there to search but found nothing.

He subsequently indicated it was at Rayfield, so we searched there as well without success. Upon returning to the hostel, a crowd had already gathered.

"I initially slapped him inside the room before taking him outside. I was the one who struck him with a plank three times. I did this because I wanted him to disclose the phone's location. I know him through my cousin."

Another suspect, Teslor Joshua, also admitted to participating in the assault, stating that he helped restrain the victim while others bound him with a rope.

The owner of the missing phone, Rinji Daniel, recounted how the incident unfolded.

He explained that after attending an event together, the deceased told him he intended to spend the night in his room.

“We came back from an event that day and Ibee said he would sleep in my room. Later, he said he wanted to step outside to answer a phone call but did not return.

“My brother and I later slept while my phone and my brother’s power bank were charging. I woke up around 4 a.m. and discovered that he was no longer in the room.

“I checked for my phone and realised it was missing. My brother’s power bank was also gone. I searched outside but couldn’t find him. I called his number several times but he didn’t answer.

When I used another person’s phone, he picked the call and immediately disconnected it.

“I then reported the matter to my cousin, and that was how the whole incident started,” Daniel said.

The killing of Mbaya has attracted widespread condemnation from students, civil society groups and residents, who described the mob action as barbaric and called for justice for the deceased.

The Plateau State Police Command said investigations into the incident is ongoing and assured that all the suspects would be charged to court to face prosecution.

The command also warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that anyone suspected of committing a crime should be handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.