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From Jude Owuamanam. Jos
If Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaye had the slightest inkling that his desire to pass the night in his friend’s house after a late night outing would be his undoing, perhaps he would have taken a second thought.
Mbaye, popularly called Ibee, and a graduate of political science from the University of Jos, was allegedly brutally attacked and murdered after one of his friends, in whose house he slept the night before, on accusation that he stole an iphone. Despite his pleas of innocence, the life of the 25-year-old upcoming artiste and model was cut short.
The death of Ibee has thrown his family, friends and the entire UNIJOS community into grief and mourning. His sister, Pilasar Zara, believed that her brother was killed out of hatred and jealousy.
She demanded the incident be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should suffer the same fate as her brother.
According to sources familiar with the incident, Mbaye had attended a late night party and decided to pass the night in his friend’s house.
It was said that the following morning his friend called him back to explain all he knew about a missing iPhone. The friend had insisted since only two of them slept in that room, he was surely the prime suspect.
But despite his pleas of innocence, his friend, along with other young men in the neighbourhood descended on him, beating him to a pulp.
The assault reportedly hasted for several hours with people watching and capturing the scene on their phones. A viral video seen by our correspondent showed the mob tying Ibee to a stake while in another scene he was repeatedly hit with a plank and other objects until he became unconscious.
Seeing that Ibee had become unresponsive, they assailants invited a nurse to examine him. The nurse reportedly confirmed that he had died.
To conceal their act, the assailants decided to move his body to the Jos University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH), but on getting there the hospital authorities informed security agencies about the bizarre incident
The police subsequently arrested three and later four persons in connection with the incident.
Ibee’s killing has attracted reactions from family and friend and the Nigerian society at large.
Speaking amid sobs, his younger sister, Zara, described the suspects as “cruel” and urged the authorities to ensure they are held accountable for the alleged crime.
She insisted that the mob knew that her brother was innocent of the accusation, but decided to met the jungle justice out of envy, hatred and jealousy.
She called on security agencies to ensure that those arrested should face the full weight of the law.
She said the family was devastated by the loss and believed that only justice would help bring some measure of closure.
She said: “We want justice. Those who took the laws into their hands should also face the consequences of the law. We want them to answer for what they did to my brother.
“My brother died a painful death and the punishment handed to those responsible should serve as a deterrent to others who may contemplate taking the law into their own hands in the future.”
She described the late Mbaye as a humble, hardworking and peace-loving young man who never had a reputation for theft or violence.
“This is somebody I grew up with. Throughout our lives together, I never heard anyone accuse him of stealing another person’s property.
“He respected everyone and never fought with people. He worked hard to make a better life for himself and was always there for the family whenever he was needed. Even those who killed him knew he was a good person. It is painful that such an innocent person lost his life in this manner,” she lamented.
“We believe that Ibee was targeted out of hatred and jealousy because nothing justified the brutal attack that allegedly claimed his life. He’s just a graduate processing some outstanding issues in the university while waiting for mobilization for the national youth service programme.
The incident, which happened penultimate Sunday at an off-campus apartment behind the City of David area along Ring Road, Jos, has sparked outrage across a broad spectrum of the scciety, including the social media.
Reacting to the incident, the police, the authorities of the university, Alumni association of the university and National Association of Nigerian students (NANS) condemned Ibee’s killinh, describing it as a dastardly act.
Police public relations officer, Alfred Alabo, a superintendent of police, speaking while prading the suspects at the headquarters of the command, said that they received a report from a good Nigerian at about 11:20pm on July 26 that some youths had brought an unconscious man to the Jos University Teaching Hospital under suspicious circumstances.
He said police operatives immediately mobilized to the hospital, where the victim was identified as Ibrahim Mbaya, 25, of Rayfield, Jos, but was confirmed dead on arrival by the doctor on duty.
He explained that the police moved swiftly after receiving the information, leading to the arrest of three initial suspects before a fourth suspect was subsequently apprehended.
According to the police spokesman, the deceased’s remains have been deposited in the hospital mortuary for autopsy, while investigations commenced immediately.
Alabo said detectives arrested Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear and Nensemka Fwanji, and later Tisloh Joshua, in connection with the incident.
He disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, was captured in a viral video allegedly using a large wooden plank to assault the deceased and was also identified in photographs obtained by investigators.
The police spokesman said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Jos, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects. He added that they would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
He said investigations revealed that at least six persons actively participated in the assault.
“Through a good Samaritan, the Plateau State Police Command received information that a young man had been taken to the hospital in a very critical condition.
“Based on that information, we swung into action and arrested three suspects. During interrogation, they confessed to their various roles in the crime. As investigations progressed, another suspect was arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four.”
Also reaecting, NANS former President, Prince Miaphen, condemned the killing, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable. He called for a thorough investigation and urged security agencies to ensure that everyone involved is brought to justice.
President of the Global President of the Alumni Association, Dr. Gad Peter Shamaki, has demanded justice over Ibee’s killing, urging security agencies to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation to ensure that everyone involved in his death is brought to justice.
In a statement made available to journalists in Jos on Tuesday, the association said it received with profound shock and deep sadness reports of Mbaya’s alleged killing following an act of violence allegedly perpetrated by fellow students.
The Association condemned the incident in the strongest terms and described Mbaya’s death as a tragic loss that has shaken the university community and violated the institution’s core values of excellence, character, mutual respect and humanity.
“We condemn this senseless and reprehensible act in the strongest possible terms. Violence has no place within our University community and stands in direct contradiction to the values of excellence, character, mutual respect and humanity upon which the University of Jos was founded,” the statement said.
The authorities of the university has also expressed angst over the incident.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, in a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations , Emmanuel Madugu, extended heartfelt condolences to his family, his course mates, and the entire political science department.
The management urged calm and assured the University community that relevant authorities are handling the matter, while calling on the students to remain peaceful and law abiding.
A social media user on LekeeLekee wrote, “A 25-year-old man with a future full of promise, a model, a chef, a University of Just graduate. He spent the night at a friend’s house. By morning, he was being accused of stealing an iPhone.
He denied it. He never got the chance to prove his innocence. Instead, people he trusted allegedly beat him so brutally that he was rushed to the hospital, unconscious, where he was confirmed dead. Ibrahim Mbaya wasn’t just another name. He had dreams, talent and a life ahead of him. Now his family is mourning because a mob chose violence over truth. No accusation should ever become a death sentence. Say no to jungle justice. Justice must be decided in court, not an angry crowd.”
