Police Arrest Three Over Death Of UNIJOS Student Allegedly Tortured

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the death of Ibrahim Mbaya, a 25-year-old student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), who allegedly died after being subjected to mob violence over accusations of stealing a mobile phone.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Command said the incident occurred on July 26, 2026, when officers at the Lamingo Police Division received a report from a Good Samaritan at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) that some youths had brought an unconscious man to the hospital under suspicious circumstances.

Police operatives who responded to the report identified the victim as Ibrahim Mbaya of Rayfield, Jos. He was confirmed dead on arrival by the doctor on duty, while his remains were deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

Following preliminary investigations, police arrested three suspects identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji (25), Emmanuel Newyear (30), and Nensemka Fwanji (22).

According to the police, one of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, was captured in a viral video allegedly using a large wooden plank to assault the victim and has also been identified in photographs obtained during the investigation.

Investigators said the suspects admitted that Mbaya was accused of stealing an iPhone. Rather than reporting the allegation to law enforcement authorities, they allegedly took the law into their own hands and assaulted him until he became unconscious.

The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Jos, where further investigations are ongoing. Police said efforts have also been intensified to arrest other suspects believed to have participated in the attack.

The Command condemned the incident, describing jungle justice as unlawful and warning that no individual or group has the authority to assault or kill a person merely suspected of committing an offence.

The statement emphasized that Nigeria’s criminal justice system ensures due process for every suspect and urged the public to report criminal allegations to the police rather than resorting to mob action.

Meanwhile, reports circulating online alleged that Mbaya, who was also described as a model, had spent the night at a friend’s off-campus residence in the Ring Road area of Jos before being accused of stealing an iPhone. The reports further claimed he was subjected to prolonged torture and degrading treatment before being rushed to the hospital. The police have not officially confirmed these specific allegations and remain part of the ongoing investigation.

The tragic incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians calling for justice and renewed action against jungle justice, while urging authorities to ensure that everyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.