Ibrahim Mbaya, 25, will be laid to rest in Borno State as his family calls for prosecution of everyone linked to his alleged killing
The family of Ibrahim Mbaya, a 25-year-old University of Jos graduate who was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Jos, Plateau State, has announced plans to bury the Jos mob victim on Thursday as relatives continue to demand justice over his death.
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Ibrahim’s younger brother, James Mbaya, disclosed the burial plans in an interview, saying the family was making arrangements to transport his remains to his hometown in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.
“We are making arrangements for his corpse to be brought home. He will be buried on Thursday,” James said.
The planned burial comes as the family grapples with what it described as a devastating loss, with James saying Ibrahim’s death had left their parents shattered.
James said his brother was the first child and first male child of the family, adding that his parents had placed great expectations on him before his life was tragically cut short.
“He had a lot of dreams that were unachieved. We are really disheartened about his death, but there is nothing we can do about it now.
We just have to take it in good faith and hope that justice is done,” he said.
Ibrahim was described by his brother as a talented model, dancer and entrepreneur who had ambitions of establishing a fashion house and restaurant. Those aspirations, James said, were left unfulfilled by his sudden death.
The family is now calling on the police to ensure that everyone found to have played a role in the killing is brought to justice.
James said the brutal circumstances surrounding his brother’s death had compounded the family’s grief and called for appropriate punishment for those responsible.
“Everyone involved in his death should get the punishment they deserve. Although this won’t bring him back, it is the best thing that can ever happen to the family after his tragic loss,” he said.
The incident occurred on Sunday at an off-campus apartment behind the City of David area along Ring Road in Jos.
The Plateau State Police Command said three suspects, identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear and Nensemka Fwanji, had been arrested in connection with the alleged culpable homicide.
According to the police account, Ibrahim had attended a social event before spending the night at a friend’s apartment because it was too late for him to return home.
The following morning, his friend reportedly discovered that an iPhone was missing and accused Ibrahim of being responsible, as the two were said to have been the only occupants of the apartment.
Ibrahim initially left the apartment but reportedly returned after he was called back to explain himself.
The police said that, upon his return, Ibrahim was allegedly confronted by his friend and a group of youths who accused him of stealing the phone.
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the group assaulted him with sticks and other objects for several hours in an attempt to force a confession. Ibrahim eventually lost consciousness.
A nurse who examined him later reportedly confirmed that he had died.
The case has renewed concerns over the dangers of mob justice and the need for suspects of alleged crimes to be subjected to due process rather than violent punishment.
For the Mbaya family, the immediate priority is to give Ibrahim a dignified burial while seeking accountability for the circumstances that led to his death.
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The family said justice remains the only meaningful response it can hope for after the loss of a young man whose life and ambitions were abruptly cut short.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
