PHOTOS: Five facts about the deceased UniJos student Ibrahim Mbaya

 

Ibrahim Mbaya, often known as "Ibee," was 25 years old when he allegedly died in Jos, Plateau State, after being attacked by a crowd on suspicion of stealing an iPhone 12. His murder has sparked national indignation.

According to the Plateau State Police Command, on July 26, some young people transported Mbaya unconscious to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Three suspects have been taken into custody, according to the command on Monday, and attempts are still being made to capture others who may be connected to the incident.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has also called for a comprehensive inquiry and denounced the incident, calling it "heartbreaking."

Beyond the news, friends and admirers recalled Mbaya as a young artist seeking fashion and modeling chances.

Here are five things you should know about him:

1) He was commonly referred to as "Ibee."

Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya was his full name, but many of his friends and followers just called him "Ibee," a moniker that appeared on all of his social media accounts.

2) He identified as a model and a baker.

Mbaya described himself as a model and a baker in a resurfaced interview, demonstrating his enthusiasm for both business and the fashion world.

3) He just made it to the Top 30 pageant finals.

The Mr. & Miss Glam Nigeria organizers announced Mbaya as one of the top 30 candidates just days before he passed away.

The youth-focused pageant honors young Nigerians' leadership, fashion, culture, and professional growth. The organization posted a video of Mbaya finishing one of his runway chores two days prior to the announcement of his passing.

4) A message of peace was evident in his most recent Instagram post.

On July 24, Mbaya published pictures of himself on Instagram along with the following caption:

"A lot of tranquility, a little quiet, and a little sunshine." The post was accompanied by Mr. & Miss Glam Nigeria-related hashtags.

final post on Instagram. Image courtesy of Screenshot

5) He was getting ready for another birthday celebration.

Mbaya's birthdate was September 18, according to information on his social media profiles.

Justice is demanded by Nigerians.

Many people on social media have responded to Mbaya's death by denouncing jungle justice and demanding that those involved be held accountable.

"SozoTrades" questioned the killing's motivation on X, writing, "Why all this killing for phone? Is a life worth more than a phone? Ibrahim deserves justice.

"MR_TRUST," a different user, bemoaned the fact that the situation worsened rather than being reported to the authorities and questioned, "What happened to transporting him to the police station? He is dead now.

"Jungle justice is a crime, even if he stole the phone," commented Goodhope Odinakachi in a Facebook comment.

"You all moaned about SARS... just to become worse than they were," Allen Oscar said, criticizing the use of mob violence.

In a same vein, Gabriel Nwobodo wrote, "Someone lynched his colleague based on accusation," urging adherence to due process. Let the law handle him.

Investigations into Mbaya's killing are still ongoing, according to the Plateau State Police Command. The three suspects who were detained have been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department, and efforts are still being made to find anyone else who may have been involved.