By Palang Paul
Amnesty International Nigeria has called for justice over the alleged mob killing of 25-year-old University of Jos graduate Ibrahim Mbaya in Plateau State.
Mbaya was allegedly attacked in Jos on July 26, 2026, after being accused of stealing an iPhone 12, triggering renewed concerns over mob violence and impunity in Nigeria.
The human rights organisation’s intervention has placed Mbaya’s death within the broader struggle against extrajudicial violence and the failure to uphold due process when criminal allegations are made.
Mbaya, popularly known as “Ibee”, was a baker, model and aspiring fashion entrepreneur whose life was cut short at 25.
Two days before his death, he walked a runway as he pursued his modelling ambitions.
On July 24, he published what would become his final Instagram post, writing: “A little sunshine, a little silence, a lot of peace.”
Two days later, he was allegedly subjected to mob violence following the accusation of phone theft.
The Plateau State Police Command said Mbaya was brought unconscious to the Jos University Teaching Hospital at about 11:20 p.m. on July 26 after his youths friends allegedly assaulted him over the missing phone.
He was pronounced dead on arrival, while his remains were deposited at the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Police subsequently arrested suspects in connection with the killing and said investigations were ongoing.
The case has renewed attention on the dangers of jungle justice in Nigeria, where allegations of theft and other offences can sometimes result in violent attacks before suspects are given an opportunity to defend themselves in court.
Amnesty International’s intervention reinforces calls for the authorities to ensure that everyone involved in Mbaya’s death is properly investigated and, where sufficient evidence exists, prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The organisation is also calling attention to the broader obligation of Nigerian authorities to protect the right to life, prevent torture and other unlawful treatment, and ensure that criminal allegations are handled through lawful judicial processes.
Mbaya’s death has left his family and friends mourning a young man whose ambitions extended beyond the circumstances in which his life ended.
Before his death, he had been building a future across modelling, baking and fashion entrepreneurship.
His final social media message — a reflection on sunshine, silence and peace now carries a painful significance for those demanding accountability for his death.
The circumstances surrounding Mbaya’s killing have raised a fundamental question: what happens when an accusation becomes a conviction before a court has heard the case?
For human rights advocates, the answer must not be violence.
The Nigerian authorities must ensure a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation, prosecute anyone found responsible and take stronger measures to prevent mob violence.
For Ibrahim Mbaya, justice must mean more than mourning. It must mean accountability.
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