Four suspects recounted their alleged roles during police interrogation over the alleged mob killing of a graduate of University of Jos Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, popularly known as Ibee.
Tripod times reports that the prime suspect has admitted striking the deceased three times with a wooden plank, as that has sparked outrage across the country.
The suspects spoke during an interrogation by the Plateau State Police Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alobo, in a video shared by Manari TV on Tuesday.
Mbaya a model and a graduate of Political Science awaiting mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps, allegedly died after he was accused of stealing an iPhone 12.
According to Rinji Daniel Fwanji, 25, The owner of the missing phone,also narrated how Mbaya allegedly came to spend the night at his residence after they returned from an event in the early hours of Sunday,July 26.
Daniel said he woke up around 4 a.m. to discover that both Mbaya and his iPhone 12 were missing.
He accused Mbaya has previously taken items from him before, insisting he initially intended to report the matter through legal means.
“I even told him I would involve a lawyer because I was tired of all these things,” Daniel said.
When asked who first assaulted Mbaya, Daniel replied, “It was Emmanuel.”
Also speaking, Emmanuel Newyear, 30, that has earlier been identified as the principal suspect captured in a viral video assaulting Mbaya admitted attacking the deceased with a wooden plank.
He first told me the phone was in Angwan. Later, he mentioned… another place. We searched everywhere but didn’t find the phone,” he said.
“When I came back after about one or two hours, there was already a crowd. I saw they had barbed his hair, and it was as if he had been hanged,” he said.
Another suspect, Joshua Tell, said he knew those accused of hanging Mbaya, and admitted he helped restrain the victim while he was being tied up.
Nensemka Fwanji, Daniel’s brother, admitted witnessing the assault and said he later rushed Mbaya to the hospital after realising the severity of his injuries.
The Plateau State Police Command had on Monday announced the arrest of four suspects involved in the Incident, They are Emmanuel Newyear, Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Nensemka Fwanji and Joshua.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly beat Mbaya until he became unconscious before taking him to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
The killing continues to draw widespread condemnation. The National Association of Nigerian Students, civil society groups, students, and residents are all demanding justice for Mbaya and calling on authorities to prosecute everyone who took part in the killing.
