The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the alleged mob killing of 25-year-old model and University of Jos graduate, Ibrahim Mbaya, popularly known as Ibee, in Jos.
Mbaya was reportedly accused of stealing an iPhone before he was allegedly beaten to death by a group of young men said to be known to him.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Plateau State and on social media, with family members, friends, students and members of the entertainment industry demanding justice for the deceased.
According to reports, Mbaya had attended a social event on campus before deciding to spend the night at a friend’s residence in the Ring Road area because it was too late to return to his home in Rayfield.
Sources said that the following morning, his friend informed him that an iPhone had gone missing and insisted that, since they were the only occupants of the room, he was the prime suspect.
Eyewitnesses alleged that Mbaya initially left the apartment but later returned after receiving a telephone call from the friend, who asked him to come back and explain the disappearance of the phone.
Upon his return, he was reportedly confronted by his friend and several other young men, who accused him of stealing the device.
The group allegedly assaulted and tortured him for several hours in an attempt to force a confession. The attack, which was captured in a viral video, reportedly involved the use of dangerous objects until Mbaya lost consciousness.
The spokesperson for the command, SP Alfred Alabo, confirmed the incident and the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, July 27, 2026.
According to the police, officers 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.
Police operatives immediately responded and identified the victim as Ibrahim Mbaya of Rayfield, Jos.
He was, however, confirmed dead on arrival by the doctor on duty, while his body was deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Alabo 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.
According to the police, investigations revealed that Emmanuel Newyear was captured in a viral video using a large wooden plank to assault the deceased. He was also identified in photographs obtained during the investigation.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly admitted that they believed Mbaya had stolen an iPhone 12 and, instead of reporting the matter to the police, took the law into their own hands by attacking 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 been intensified to arrest other suspects who are currently on the run, adding that all those involved will be charged in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Condemning the incident, the Plateau State Police Command described jungle justice as unlawful and warned that no individual or group has the legal authority to assault or kill anyone suspected of committing a crime.
The command urged members of the public to report cases of theft and other criminal offences to law enforcement agencies rather than resorting to self-help, stressing that every suspect is entitled to due process under Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Police also called on residents to remain law-abiding and continue providing credible information to security agencies to support crime prevention and effective policing across the state.
