The Nigeria Police Force has cleared the air on the sudden disappearance of a self-described former investigative journalist and anonymous whistleblower who goes by the name 99% OPPRESSED on X, with verified X handle @PIDOMNIGERIA.
The Police disclosed his name as Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri. And though the Police said they arrested him on August 5th, he still tweeted the confirmation of a promise he made to his followers 14 days after the Police said they had him in custody.
It may be recalled that on Wednesday, August 22, a journalist, David Hundeyin, tweeted that he had secured the control of @PIDOMNIGERIA’s X handle and that he had gone missing, while his X account had been compromised.
Hundeyin’s comment generated a massive outcry on social media, with a campaign launched to demand the whereabouts of @PIDOMNigeria using hashtags like #PIDOM, #FreePidom, and #WhereisPidom.
@PIDOMNIGERIA’s followers believe that the investigative journalist’s problems started when he tweeted on August 9: “Nigeria is finished. I have with me a confidential document on how dem dey share d cake. Still verifying the authenticity.”
Then, on August 15, he tweeted again: “I know a lot of you are worried, waiting for the series and documents I promised to publish on “How them share the cake”. Waiting for another independent source I engaged to equally verify same documents before action. I shall only feed you with facts that are incontrovertible.”
However, the Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that officials from the National Cybercrime Center “have arrested one Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, for allegedly undermining the integrity of government operations.”
The police said PIDOMNigeria was arrested on August 5 in his hotel room in Rivers State.
In a statement on Saturday [today] by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the Police said other allegations against @PIDOMNigeria are unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, and cyber-related offences.
Adejobi said, “In a well-coordinated effort, officials from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre apprehended Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, on allegations of committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations.
“The arrest took place on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.
“There are several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offences, and others.”
Assuring that a painstaking investigation would be conducted into the allegations against PIDOM, Adejobi said, “We will do due diligence in carrying out a thorough investigation into the cases.
“The force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation.”
