Outrage has erupted across Nigeria following the fatal mob attack on 25-year-old creative Ibrahim Mbaya, who was beaten to death in Jos over the alleged theft of an iPhone 12.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that Mbaya was rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital on 26 July by a group of youths, but was declared dead on arrival. Investigators have since arrested three suspects and transferred them to the State Criminal Investigation Department, while operations continue to track down others involved.
Known widely to friends and followers as “Ibee”, Mbaya was a rising baker and model who had recently made waves in the creative industry. Just days before his death, organisers of the Mr & Miss Glam Nigeria pageant unveiled him as one of their top 30 finalists, releasing footage of him performing a runway task for the youth leadership and fashion competition. His final Instagram post, published on 24 July, carried a poignant caption: “A little sunshine, a little silence, a lot of peace.” He would have turned 26 on 18 September.
The killing has drawn sharp condemnation from student bodies and the public alike. The National Association of Nigerian Students described the murder as “heartbreaking” and demanded a thorough investigation. Meanwhile, a fierce backlash against vigilante violence has swept social media.
Online commentators expressed fury over the incident, with many questioning how a dispute over a mobile phone could lead to murder. Commenters on X and Facebook condemned the reliance on “jungle justice”, insisting the suspect should have been handed over to law enforcement and urging authorities to prosecute those responsible to the full extent of the law.