How Suspects Allegedly Tortured UNIJOS Graduate to Death Over Missing iPhone 12

Fresh details have emerged over the killing of University of Jos graduate, Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, popularly known as Ibee, as four suspects recounted their alleged involvement during police interrogation in a case that has triggered widespread outrage across Nigeria.

The suspects spoke while being questioned by the Plateau State Police Command, with excerpts of the interrogation released in a video by Manari TV on Tuesday.

Mbaya, a Political Science graduate awaiting mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), allegedly lost his life after being accused of stealing an iPhone 12 belonging to an acquaintance.

During the interrogation, the prime suspect, Emmanuel Newyear, 30, who police identified as the man seen in a viral video attacking Mbaya with a wooden plank, admitted to assaulting him.

Newyear claimed he first slapped Mbaya before striking him with the plank because he believed the graduate was withholding information about the missing phone.

He claimed Mbaya mentioned several locations where the phone could be found, but efforts to recover it proved unsuccessful.

The suspect further claimed that after the unsuccessful search, he instructed others not to continue assaulting Mbaya before leaving the scene.

The owner of the missing phone, Rinji Daniel Fwanji, 25, also gave his account to investigators. He said Mbaya had spent the night at his residence after they returned from an event in the early hours of July 26.

Fwanji told police that he woke up around 4:00 a.m. to discover that both Mbaya and his iPhone 12 were gone. After several failed attempts to reach him, another person’s phone was used to make contact, and Mbaya agreed to return.

The Plateau State Police Command said inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident and ascertain the roles of those arrested.

Police assured the public that anyone found responsible would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. They also urged residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing that allegations of theft or any other offence should be reported to security agencies for proper investigation.

Meanwhile, the family has announced that Mbaya will be buried on Thursday in his hometown in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State. His younger brother, James Mbaya, said arrangements were underway to transport his remains home for burial.

James described his brother’s death as a devastating loss, saying the tragedy had left their parents heartbroken. He noted that Ibrahim, the family’s first child and first son, had many aspirations that were cut short by the incident. According to him, the 25-year-old was a talented model, dancer, and entrepreneur who dreamed of establishing his own fashion house and restaurant. The family also called on the police to ensure that everyone involved in the killing is brought to justice.