Nigerians React to Death of Ibrahim Mbaya, a Student from UniJos

The death of 25-year-old Ibrahim Mbaya, known as "Ibee," has sparked anger across Nigeria. He reportedly died after a mob attacked him, claiming he stole an iPhone 12 in Jos, Plateau State.

The Plateau State Police Command stated that some youths brought Mbaya to the Jos University Teaching Hospital on July 26, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

On Monday, the police announced that three suspects have been arrested. They are also trying to find others involved in the incident.

The National Association of Nigerian Students condemned the killing. They called it "heartbreaking" and demanded a full investigation.

Ibrahim Mbaya was remembered by friends as a young man full of creativity, looking to make a mark in modelling and fashion.

Here are five things to know about him:

1) He was known as ‘Ibee’
His full name was Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, but many friends called him "Ibee." This nickname was common on his social media accounts.

2) He was a baker and a model
In an interview, Mbaya described himself as a baker and a model. This showed his love for both business and fashion.

3) He was a Top 30 finalist in a pageant
Just days before he died, Mbaya was announced as one of the top 30 finalists in the Mr & Miss Glam Nigeria pageant. This competition celebrates fashion, culture, leadership, and career growth for young Nigerians. The organization shared a video of Mbaya completing a runway task just two days before his death.

4) His last Instagram post shared a message of peace
Mbaya's final Instagram post, from July 24, featured photos of him with the caption: "A little sunshine, a little silence, a lot of peace." He used hashtags related to Mr & Miss Glam Nigeria.

5) He was looking forward to his birthday
Information from his social media indicated that Mbaya's birthday was on September 18.

Nigerians demand justice

Mbaya's death has led to strong reactions online. Many people are against jungle justice and want the attackers to face punishment.

On X, a user named "SozoTrades" questioned the reason for the killing, asking, "Why all this killing for phone? Is the phone worth more than a life? Justice for Ibrahim."

Another user, "MR_TRUST," expressed disappointment that the situation got out of hand instead of being reported, saying, "What happened to taking him to the police station? Now he’s dead."

On Facebook, Goodhope Odinakachi said, "Even if he stole the phone, jungle justice is an offence."

Allen Oscar criticized the mob violence, stating, "Y’all complained about SARS… only to become worse than they were."

Gabriel Nwobodo called for respect for the law, saying, "Someone lynched his fellow based on accusation. Let the law deal with him."

Meanwhile, investigations into Mbaya's death are still ongoing. The Plateau State Police Command mentioned that the three arrested suspects have been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department. They are also working to find others involved in the incident.