Concerns are growing across social media about the disappearance of an anonymous whistleblower, PIDOM Nigeria, who has been reported missing by a fellow investigative journalist, David Hundeyin.
Hundeyin suspects foul play and has shared his concerns on PIDOM’s X.com account, alleging that PIDOM’s disappearance is connected to Nigerian authorities.
“After coming under immense pressure from the Nigerian public and an intervention involving @Mazi_OJD, @YeleSowore, @adeyanjudeji, @Adebayo_Ralphand myself, @PoliceNG has confirmed that @PIDOMNIGERIA is alive and well in detention at FCID Abuja.” Hundeyin said.
Pro-democracy activist, Omoyele Sowore, has also spoken out, calling for PIDOM’s immediate release.
In a post on X.com on Friday, Sowore wrote, “I woke up to the heart-wrenching report of the abduction and secret detention of whistleblower and undercover journalist #PIDOMNIGERIA by forces related to the #officialABAT; going by the modus operandi of the regime, #PIDOMNIGERIA could be harmed if everything is not done to secure his release immediately.
“I, therefore, request the #officialABAT regime Gestapo unit holding #PIDOMNIGERIA to release him or her immediately. The same applies to all #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters illegally or extralegally detained across Nigeria.”
“Supposedly, his phone was destroyed during the arrest, and given the alleged lack of evidence tying him to the Twitter handle, a case for his innocence could be made stronger if I used his account and tweeted in his voice. Supposedly, this person said he had been granted administrative bail with ‘stringent conditions,’” Hundeyin wrote.
In the “Police Administrative Bail Condition” document dated August 15, which Hundeyin provided, it was alleged that #PIDOMNIGERIA, identified as Bristol Isaac, was being detained by the Nigerian police for committing computer-related fraud.
Despite their professional relationship, Hundeyin stated that he and PIDOMNIGERIA never met in person, with PIDOM taking measures to protect his identity.
Hundeyin now fears for PIDOM’s safety, suspecting he may be in grave danger or even deceased.
He called for public awareness and action towards PIDOM’s disappearance, emphasising the need to expose what he alleged is a government attempt to silence a whistleblower.
“If indeed my friend PIDOM has been killed, I want the world to know what happened and who was responsible for it. I will not be silent about it. Nigerians must know. Even if as usual, they will do nothing about it, they must know. If not for our sake, then for our children. If not for them, then for their children. Or maybe their children after them.
With over 265,000 followers on X.com, #PIDOMNIGERIA’s absence has sparked concern among the Nigerian online community, prompting a trending campaign calling for his release.
The hashtags #PIDOM, #FreePidom, #WhereisPidom, among others are also trending on X.
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