The family of Ibrahim Mbaya, the 25-year-old graduate of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) who allegedly lost his life after being brutally assaulted by a mob in Plateau State, is preparing to lay him to rest today in his hometown of Hawul Local Government Area, Borno State, even as relatives continue to demand justice for what they describe as a tragic and avoidable loss.
According to members of the bereaved family, arrangements have been concluded to transport the remains of the deceased from Jos to Borno, where friends, relatives and community members are expected to gather for his burial. The solemn ceremony comes only days after the incident that has generated widespread outrage across Nigeria and renewed concerns over mob violence and the growing culture of jungle justice.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the deceased’s younger brother, James Mbaya, described Ibrahim’s death as a devastating blow from which their parents may never fully recover. He explained that the late graduate was the family’s first child and first son, adding that his death had shattered the hopes and aspirations they had nurtured for many years.
Beyond his academic achievements, Ibrahim was remembered as an ambitious young man with interests that extended beyond the classroom. Family members said he was actively involved in modelling, dancing and entrepreneurship and had hoped to establish a fashion brand and a restaurant after completing his studies. Those dreams, they lamented, were abruptly cut short by the tragic events that unfolded in Jos.
Preliminary investigations by the Plateau State Police Command indicate that the incident allegedly stemmed from accusations surrounding a missing iPhone 12 after the deceased reportedly spent the night at a friend’s apartment following a social gathering. Police said the situation escalated into a violent assault in which he was allegedly beaten repeatedly by a group of youths before losing consciousness. A medical examination later confirmed his death.
The police have since confirmed the arrest of three suspects in connection with the alleged culpable homicide. Investigators say the suspects remain in custody while efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the individual roles played by those allegedly involved in the attack.
While mourning their loss, the Mbaya family has appealed to law enforcement authorities to ensure that everyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law. They insist that although no legal process can restore Ibrahim’s life, holding those responsible accountable would provide some measure of justice and help discourage similar acts of mob violence in the future.
The killing has also drawn reactions from members of the University of Jos community and the institution’s alumni, many of whom have condemned the resort to jungle justice and called for stronger public awareness on the importance of allowing law enforcement agencies to investigate criminal allegations rather than taking the law into private hands.
Legal and education stakeholders have similarly expressed concern over the increasing incidence of mob attacks across the country. They argue that accusations of theft or other offences should be investigated through established judicial processes, warning that extrajudicial violence not only violates the rule of law but also places innocent lives at risk.
For the Nigerian higher education community, Ibrahim Mbaya’s death represents yet another painful reminder of the dangers students and recent graduates can face outside the classroom. Many observers say institutions, community leaders and security agencies must intensify public enlightenment campaigns against jungle justice while strengthening confidence in lawful mechanisms for resolving disputes and investigating criminal allegations.
As family members gather today to bid farewell to the young graduate, attention remains focused on the ongoing police investigation. Beyond the burial, many Nigerians hope the case will culminate in justice for the deceased and reinforce the message that no allegation, regardless of its nature, should ever justify the unlawful taking of human life.
