Three Arrested After UniJos Graduate Allegedly Tortured to Death Over Missing iPhone 12
A 25-year-old graduate of the University of Jos, Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, has died after he was allegedly tortured by a group of youths over accusations that he stole an iPhone 12, prompting widespread outrage and renewed calls to end jungle justice in Nigeria.
The incident reportedly occurred at an off-campus apartment behind the City of David area along Ring Road in Jos, Plateau State. According to preliminary investigations, Mbaya had spent the night at a friend’s residence after attending a social gathering. The following morning, he was accused of stealing an iPhone 12 after the device was reported missing.
Instead of reporting the allegation to the police, the suspects allegedly subjected Mbaya to hours of assault in an attempt to force a confession. Witnesses said he was beaten with wooden planks and other objects until he became unconscious. Disturbing videos that later surfaced online appeared to show the victim being tortured, sparking public condemnation across the country.
Police said officers attached to the Lamingo Division received a report at about 11:20 p.m. on July 26 from a Good Samaritan at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), informing them that some youths had brought an unconscious man to the hospital under suspicious circumstances. Responding officers identified the victim as Mbaya, who was confirmed dead on arrival by the attending doctor. His remains have since been deposited in the hospital mortuary for an autopsy.
The Plateau State Police Command said detectives immediately launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, 25, Emmanuel Newyear, 30, and Nensemka Fwanji, 22. Investigators said one of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, was allegedly captured in a viral video striking the deceased with a large wooden plank.
According to the police, the suspects admitted that Mbaya had been accused of stealing the phone but chose to take the law into their own hands rather than report the matter to law enforcement authorities. The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Jos, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals believed to have fled after the incident.
The killing has drawn condemnation from the University of Jos Alumni Association, the National Association of Nigerian Students and other groups, all of whom have demanded justice for the deceased and called for an end to mob violence. Police also reiterated that jungle justice is a criminal offence and urged members of the public to hand over criminal suspects to security agencies instead of resorting to violence.
