Jos, Nigeria – July 1, 2025 — A significant step in the fight against mob violence was taken in Jos with the official launch of the Fwinbe Thomas Gofwan Memorial Foundation office. The event marked a solemn but determined moment as family, friends, volunteers, and community leaders came together to honor the life of the late Finbe Thomas Gofwan, who was tragically lynched in 2023, and to advance the cause of justice, education, and reform.
Bright Habila, Program Manager of the Foundation, unveiled the organization’s mission to curb mob lynching and mob-related violence, particularly in Plateau State. In his address, Habila stressed that the Foundation’s focus will include awareness creation, trust-building, volunteer capacity development, and public policy advocacy. “We are working to ensure that cases like Finbe’s never happen again. This foundation exists to promote a system where justice is served through lawful means, not through mob action,” Habila said.
Recognizing the nonprofit nature of the organization, Habila noted the vital role of volunteers. “We do not have the resources to pay staff, but we have something more powerful—people willing to give their time and energy to serve humanity. Our volunteers are the backbone of this mission,” he added.
Some of the Foundation’s planned activities include quarterly town hall meetings, community education campaigns in schools, social media advocacy using hashtags like #JusticeForPin, and police-community dialogue sessions. The Foundation also aims to train at least 50 volunteers in crisis intervention and conflict de-escalation. In addition, data collection efforts will help support a policy brief to be presented to lawmakers, with the goal of initiating stronger anti-lynching legislation in Plateau State.
Nenpominyi Gofwan—popularly known as Pee Gofwan and elder brother to the late Finbe—spoke movingly at the launch. He recounted the tragic events of September 25, 2023, when Fwinbe was falsely accused of stealing a car and lynched by a mob on Tudunwada Road in Jos. “That car belonged to him. There was no theft, no evidence—just blind anger,” he said. “Had someone stopped to ask a question, my brother might still be alive today.”
Nenpominyi shared how the immense pain of losing Fwinbe became a catalyst for founding the organization. “This Foundation is our way of turning pain into purpose. We want to ensure that no other family suffers what we have suffered,” he said. As a founding board member, he is joined by fellow board members Nenpominyi, Wakbul, Grace Ager, Tracy Kwanmen, all of whom have committed to using their time and resources to pursue this cause.
Volunteer Pokyes Dakon shared his motivation for joining the initiative. “Mob violence has claimed too many innocent lives. I joined this foundation to help change the mindset of people in our communities,” he said. Dakon emphasized the need to call in law enforcement rather than resorting to mob action. “When something happens, we must seek the truth and involve the authorities, not take laws into our own hands.”
Adding a personal touch, family friend Kit’a Emmanuel Dimka offered a goodwill message of encouragement and support. “Though the foundation was born out of heartbreak, its mission is powerful. I pray that all the passion and effort poured into this work will not go to waste. Even when there is no financial reward, I hope volunteers remain committed to the cause,” she said. Dimka concluded with a prayer that the mission of the Foundation would rise to great heights and help prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Daniel Obla condemned the rise of mob lynching in Nigeria, calling it a tragic trend driven by misplaced priorities and societal frustration. He questioned why petty offenders face brutal deaths while corrupt elites go unpunished. He urged grassroots education, especially in schools, to change mindsets and foster a more just society.
The launch of the Fwinbe Thomas Gofwan Memorial Foundation is more than just the opening of an office—it is the beginning of a movement rooted in justice, compassion, and a commitment to ending mob violence in Nigeria.
