A well-known Nigerian whistleblower, @PIDOMNIGERIA, has gone missing amid reports of police detention and an unusually high bail amount.
PidomNigeria, famous for exposing corruption and human rights abuses in Nigeria, has not been active online since August 15, 2024.
With over 200,000 followers, his sudden disappearance has led to a widespread campaign on social media with the hashtag #FreePidom, demanding his release.
Investigative journalist David Hundeyin has confirmed PidomNigeria’s disappearance.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “This is @DavidHundeyin tweeting. I have control of PIDOM’s account.” Hundeyin suspects foul play and shared his concerns on PidomNigeria’s account. He detailed in an article that he found out through a message from PidomNigeria’s account that Pidom had been arrested on August 5 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and moved to the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja. Pidom is allegedly being held by the National Cybercrime Centre.
Hundeyin wrote: “According to this unidentified person, PIDOM’s instructions were that if anything happened to him, his account login details should be handed over to me.” Hundeyin also said the person claimed Pidom had been granted bail with “stringent conditions.”
The police document, dated August 15, 2024, confirms PidomNigeria, identified as Bristol Isaac, is being held for suspected computer-related fraud. The document outlines strict bail conditions: “You must provide two sureties, either a Federal or State Government employee of Grade Level 16 with property worth N500 million or a businessman with similar assets.”
Hundeyin has raised concerns about government involvement, saying the incorrect login details and subsequent failed attempts to secure Pidom’s account suggest manipulation. He fears for Pidom’s safety and has called for public action, stating: “If PIDOM has been killed, I want the world to know what happened and who was responsible for it.”
Pro-democracy activist Omoyele Sowore has also demanded Pidom’s immediate release, posting on X: “I woke up to the heart-wrenching report of the abduction and secret detention of whistleblower and undercover journalist #PIDOMNIGERIA. Release him immediately.”
Other social media users have echoed these sentiments. Peter Obi Grassroots Mobilisation wrote: “The reported disappearance of PIDOM is a chilling reminder of the dark forces that have consumed Nigeria’s democratic fabric.”
