The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the alleged mob killing of a 25-year-old man, Ibrahim Mbaya, who was reportedly attacked over accusations of stealing a mobile phone in Jos, the state capital.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, the incident came to light on the night of July 26, 2026, after a concerned resident alerted the police that an unconscious man had been rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) by a group of youths under suspicious circumstances. Hospital officials later confirmed that the victim was dead on arrival.
Following a thorough investigation, police operatives arrested three suspects identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear, and Nensemka Fwanji. Preliminary findings by investigators linked the trio to the fatal assault.
Police said the deceased was accused of stealing an iPhone 12. Instead of handing him over to law enforcement authorities for investigation, the suspects, alongside other individuals still at large, allegedly subjected him to a brutal beating that left him unconscious and ultimately led to his death.
Investigators also disclosed that one of the arrested suspects was seen in a viral video repeatedly striking the victim with a wooden plank during the attack, a development that has sparked widespread outrage on social media.
The three suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Jos, where detectives have intensified investigations. The police said efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other persons believed to have participated in the mob attack.
Condemning the incident, the Plateau State Police Command warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that allegations of criminal conduct should always be reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution.
The command reiterated that every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction and urged citizens to reject jungle justice in all its forms.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the killing, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable. The association called for a comprehensive investigation and the swift prosecution of everyone involved, insisting that those responsible must be brought to justice to deter future acts of mob violence.
