By Sabiu Abdullahi
A University of Jos (UNIJOS) student, identified as Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, has allegedly died after fellow students accused him of stealing an iPhone 16 and subjected him to hours of torture at an off-campus apartment in Jos, Plateau State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday at a residence behind the City of David in the Ring Road area of the city.
According to reports, Ibrahim had spent the night at a friend’s apartment before he was accused the following morning of stealing an iPhone 16. The friend reportedly claimed that Ibrahim was the only other person in the room and therefore the main suspect.
Rather than reporting the allegation to the police, the suspects allegedly assaulted and humiliated the student for several hours.
A video said to have captured parts of the incident has circulated online. It allegedly shows the victim tied up and suspended while being beaten. In another scene, he was reportedly forced to transfer water from one container to another with a teaspoon despite his weakened condition.
Sources alleged that the student endured repeated assaults and degrading treatment throughout the ordeal.
They further claimed that after the torture, Ibrahim was locked inside a room where a nurse was invited to examine him. The nurse reportedly confirmed that he had died.
The suspects allegedly attempted to take his body to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in what witnesses described as an effort to portray the incident as a medical emergency. However, the police were reportedly alerted before the plan could be carried out.
Reacting to the incident, a concerned citizen, Prince Miaphen, condemned the alleged killing and called for justice.
“That this late student was beaten to death by his fellow students in a student environment over allegations of theft has given me serious headache and pains.
“More annoying is the fact that one of his female friends, a fellow model, suggested that my attention should be called upon when it was happening and another friend said they should wait for further investigation before informing me. Kai! Kai!! Kai!!!”
Providing more details, Miaphen said:
“It was alleged that the young boy went and slept in a friend’s place and there was a case of a stolen iPhone which he was accused of stealing. UNIJOS, Bauchi Ring Road…
“This was a very friendly and jovial model.
“He was beaten to death yesterday by students in an off-campus apartment behind the City of David in Ring Road.
“IB passed the night in his friend’s place in Ring Road and the friend accused him of stealing his iPhone 16 in the morning.
“He said since they were the only two in the room, he’s the only suspect.
“They subjected this young model to brutal torture, humiliating, disgracing and dehumanising him.
“They later locked him up in a room and asked a nurse to check up on him. The nurse confirmed him dead and they attempted to take him to JUTH Emergency Unit to make the case look like an emergency when the police was called.
“The beastly treatment they subjected this boy to is better imagined.
“May Almighty God continue to expose perpetrators of dastardly acts like this. Amen/Ameen.”
The incident has triggered widespread outrage among students and residents. Many have called on law enforcement agencies to carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that anyone found responsible faces prosecution.
As of the time of filing this report, the University of Jos had not issued an official statement on the incident.
The spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, did not comment on the matter. He reportedly declined to speak when first contacted, while subsequent calls to him were not answered.
