JUSTICE FOR IBRAHIM MBAYA: A COLLECTIVE CALL TO END
JUNGLE JUSTICE IN PLATEAU STATE
The Fwinbe Thomas Gofwan Memorial Foundation (FTGMF) joins all people of conscience in expressing profound sorrow and outrage over the brutal mob killing of Ibrahim Mbaya, a 25-year-old model and student of the University of Jos.
Ibrahim was not merely another victim whose name will disappear from the news cycle. He was a son, a brother, a friend, a student, and a young man with enormous promise. His future was stolen in a moment of lawlessness, leaving behind a grieving family now forced to bury a loved one whose life had barely begun. No parent should ever have to bury a child in such cruel and senseless circumstances, and no family should have to live with the lifelong trauma of knowing that their loved one was denied every principle of justice, dignity and due process.
What makes Ibrahim's death even more horrifying is not only the violence inflicted upon him, but the response of those who witnessed it. As videos of the attack circulated, our nation watched people record the incident while precious moments slipped away—moments when voices could have called for restraint, when individuals could have intervened to de-escalate the situation, and when a life might still have been saved. The tragedy is therefore not only that a young man was killed; it is that our collective humanity appeared to stand by as it happened.
A society where more people reach for their phones than step forward to protect a life is a society in urgent need of moral renewal.
For FTGMF, this tragedy is painfully familiar. We know what it means to receive the devastating news that a loved one has been swallowed by mob violence. We know the unanswered questions, the overwhelming grief, and the enduring pain that remain long after public attention has faded. Our Foundation was established following the mob lynching of Fwinbe Thomas Gofwan in September 2023, with a commitment to ensuring that fewer families experience the tragedy that ours endured.
It is because we have walked this painful road that we refuse to accept jungle justice as normal. Every new victim reopens old wounds—not only for us, but for every family that has suffered a similar loss. Ibrahim Mbaya's death is another painful reminder that unless we act together and decisively, more innocent lives will be lost and more families will be left carrying unimaginable grief.
We therefore unequivocally condemn this barbaric act and call upon the Nigeria Police Force and all relevant authorities to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, identify and prosecute every person responsible, and keep the public informed of progress. Justice must not be delayed, and this case must not be allowed to fade into another unresolved statistic.
However, We cannot begin to shout for justice, only after another life has already been taken. Prevention must become a national priority. Communities require practical skills to recognize escalating situations, calm tensions, discourage mob behavior, protect vulnerable persons, and safely hand suspects over to lawful authorities instead of allowing violence to take its course. Through its community engagement initiatives, including the SCOHAHA Mob De-escalation Model, FTGMF is committed to working alongside communities and partner organizations to strengthen peaceful responses to conflict and prevent future tragedies. Every person trained to de-escalate violence is another potential life saved.
This responsibility cannot rest with one organisation alone.
We therefore call upon Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights Defenders, Faith-Based Organisations, Professional Associations, Student Bodies and all advocates of justice to stand together in a sustained and coordinated response.
Specifically, we invite organisations to partner with FTGMF in two critical areas.
First, let us work together to educate our communities. Through joint advocacy, public sensitisation, community dialogues, youth engagement and deescalation training, we can help rebuild a culture that values human life, rejects mob violence and promotes respect for the rule of law.
Second, let us ensure that justice does not lose momentum. Public attention often fades after the headlines disappear, but accountability requires persistence. FTGMF is committed to monitoring this case and engaging with the relevant authorities until justice is served. We invite other civil society organisations, legal practitioners and human rights advocates to join us in following this matter closely, engaging constructively with the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant institutions, and ensuring that every perpetrator is identified, prosecuted and held accountable in accordance with the law.
Justice is strongest when citizens refuse to look away.
Ibrahim Mbaya deserves justice.
His family deserves answers.
Our society deserves better.
Let Ibrahim's death become a turning point—not another forgotten tragedy. Let it strengthen our collective resolve to reject jungle justice, uphold the rule of law and restore the value of every human life.
Together, let us ensure that this case is neither forgotten nor repeated.
