By MARIE-THERESE NANLONG
The Fwinbe Thomas Gofwan Memorial Foundation (FTGMF) has called on security agencies to ensure the swift prosecution of those responsible for the mob killing of University of Jos student and model, Ibrahim Mbaya, warning that the growing resort to jungle justice poses a serious threat to the rule of law.
The appeal was contained in a Civil Society Action Alert titled, ‘Justice for Ibrahim Mbaya: A Collective Call to End Jungle Justice in Plateau State’, in which the foundation condemned the killing and demanded justice for the deceased.
The foundation urged the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to conduct a transparent investigation, insisting that every person involved in the killing must be identified and prosecuted to prevent the case from becoming another unresolved incident.
While mourning Mbaya’s death, FTGMF described him as more than another victim whose name would disappear from the news cycle, saying he was a son, brother, friend, student and a young man with enormous promise whose life was cut short by lawlessness.
The organisation also expressed concern over reports that some witnesses recorded the attack on their phones instead of making efforts to stop it or call for help.
According to the foundation, “Our nation watched people record the incident while precious moments slipped away, moments when voices could have called for restraint,” warning that “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.”
The foundation, established following the lynching of Fwinbe Gofwan in September 2023, said it understood the unanswered questions, overwhelming grief and enduring pain families experience after losing loved ones to mob violence.
It maintained that while justice remains essential, it must be complemented by sustained public enlightenment campaigns and community de-escalation training to discourage mob attacks and promote lawful conflict resolution.
The statement stressed that prevention should become a national priority, urging communities to discourage mob action and hand suspects over to lawful authorities for investigation and prosecution.
In the statement signed by its Programme Manager, Bright Habila, the foundation also appealed to civil society organisations, faith-based groups, professional bodies, student organisations and the media to intensify advocacy against jungle justice.
The statement concluded: “Ibrahim Mbaya deserves justice. His family deserves answers. Our society deserves better.”