PIDOMNIGERIA Whistleblower Known for Leaking Classified Government Documents Tracked, Abducted By FCID   

PIDOMNIGERIA Whistleblower Known for Leaking Classified Government Documents Tracked, Abducted By FCID 

 

An anonymous whistleblower, believed to be the force behind PIDOMNIGERIA, an online platform notorious for leaking classified government documents, has reportedly gone missing. 

 

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is currently detaining Isaac Bristol, a resident of Rivers State, who is suspected of operating the @PIDOMNIGERIA profile on X (formerly Twitter), a handle known for exposing alleged government misconduct.

 

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The case came to light after Nigerian investigative journalist David Hundeyin disclosed details of a conversation with someone claiming to be close to the detainee.

 

According to Hundeyin, this individual reached out through the @PIDOMNIGERIA account, revealing that Isaac was apprehended by the police on August 5.

 

Further investigations have revealed that Isaac faces serious accusations from the authorities.

 

A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, informed the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that the police are charging Isaac with multiple offenses, including terrorism financing and espionage.

 

The source noted that Isaac’s alleged violations also include breaching the Official Secrets Act (OSA), committing treasonable felony, engaging in computer wire fraud, and the unauthorized removal of classified documents.

 

“The Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) tracked and apprehended him based on petitions that highlighted these grave allegations,” the insider disclosed.

 

The OSA, which prohibits the unauthorized dissemination of information deemed prejudicial to Nigeria’s security, is at the heart of the government’s case against Isaac.

 

The leaks shared through PIDOMNIGERIA’s X handle reportedly attracted the attention of Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA). Although Isaac is not currently in NSA custody, the NSA’s office is actively investigating the case. Presently, Isaac is held at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and it is expected that other security agencies may seek to interrogate him as well.

 

In a related development, the NSA’s office recently claimed to have intercepted N83 billion in cryptocurrency, which it alleged was intended to fund a nationwide protest under the #EndBadGovernance banner. One of the cryptocurrency accounts implicated in this operation is reportedly connected to the @PIDOMNIGERIA account.

 

Prior to Isaac’s arrest, the @PIDOMNIGERIA account had been active in publishing sensitive information, including claims linking the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to fraudulent activities and several leaks of police signals.

 

Isaac’s detention is the latest in a series of actions against media practitioners and publishers by the Nigerian government. In May, FIJ reporter Daniel Ojukwu was tracked, abducted, and held in police custody for 10 days.

 

 

Even after his release on bail, Ojukwu is required to report to Abuja from Lagos every two weeks. Similarly, FIJ Founder and Editor-in-Chief ‘Fisyao Soyombo, who also surrendered to the authorities, has been subjected to the same biweekly reporting conditions.

 

Source: FIJ, contributed by NewsWeek Nigeria