Four suspects arrested for the brutal mob killing of University of Jos graduate Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya popularly called Ibee, have confessed to their roles in the assault that left the young man dead.
Their reason: a missing iPhone.
–“We Beat Him To Find The Phone’”–
The suspects were paraded on Tuesday by the Plateau State Police Command in Jos.
Mbaya, a Political Science graduate awaiting NYSC mobilisation, was allegedly tortured to death on Sunday at an off-campus apartment behind the City of David area along Ring Road, Jos North.
He was accused of stealing an iPhone.
A viral video showed the deceased being repeatedly flogged with planks and canes before he succumbed to the injuries. The footage has since sparked outrage across Plateau State and beyond.
—Suspect: “I hit him three times with a plank”—
One of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, 30, admitted to beating Mbaya.
“On July 26, my cousin came to my place and informed me that his phone was missing. He said they had called the deceased and he came to the apartment,” Newyear said.
“When we questioned him, he told us the phone was at Naraguta Hostel beside a tree. We went there and searched but did not find it.
“He later told us it was at Rayfield, so we also went there without finding it. When we returned to the hostel, many people had already gathered.
“I first slapped him inside the room before bringing him outside. I was the one who hit him with a plank three times. I beat him because I wanted him to tell me where the phone was. I know him through my cousin.”
—“I held his hands while they tied him”—
Another suspect, Teslor Joshua, also confessed to taking part in the attack.
“I participated by holding his hands while they tied him with rope,” he said.
—Phone owner narrates how it started—
The owner of the missing phone, Rinji Daniel, recounted how the night turned deadly.
“We came back from an event that day and Ibee said he would sleep in my room. Later, he said he wanted to step outside to answer a phone call but did not return.
“My brother and I later slept while my phone and my brother’s power bank were charging. I woke up around 4 a.m. and discovered that he was no longer in the room.
“I checked for my phone and realised it was missing. My brother’s power bank was also gone. I searched outside but couldn’t find him. I called his number several times but he didn’t answer.
“When I used another person’s phone, he picked the call and immediately disconnected it.
“I then reported the matter to my cousin, and that was how the whole incident started,” Daniel said.
—Outrage And Police Warning—
The killing has drawn widespread condemnation from students, civil society groups and residents who described the mob action as barbaric and demanded justice for the deceased.
The Plateau State Police Command said investigations are ongoing and assured that all suspects would be charged to court.
The command also warned the public against jungle justice:
“Anyone suspected of committing a crime should be handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.”
