The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that an investigation revealed connections between investigative journalist David Hundeyin, Michael Alade, and Bristol Isaac, also known as PIDOMNigeria.
PIDOMNigeria stands accused of leaking classified documents, committing fraud, engaging in sedition, and evading taxes, among other charges.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, stated that PIDOM was apprehended following a petition from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Adejobi described how operatives from the National Cybercrime Centre encountered resistance when they attempted to arrest PIDOM at a hotel.
He pointed out that PIDOM locked himself in his room, destroyed his phone, and flushed it down the toilet in an effort to eliminate evidence.
Adejobi explained, “The operatives of the Nigerian Police National Cybercrime Center have apprehended an anonymous hacker in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, offences against the Official Secret Act, leakage of classified and restricted documents, acts likely to cause a breach of the public peace, sedition, fraud, and tax evasion.
“The discreet investigation was initiated to identify those responsible for the leakage, which led to the identification of Bristol Isaac, Michael Temidayo Alade, and David Hundeyin, who are suspects in connection with the alleged crimes.
“The principal suspect, Bristol Isaac, was apprehended at a hotel in Port Harcourt by National Cybercrime Center detectives in an attempt to resist arrest.”
Further detailing the events, Adejobi added, “The suspect locked himself in the hotel room, smashed his phone, and flushed it down the toilet to destroy evidence. He also refused to surrender his phone’s password, claiming he had forgotten it, thereby concealing information. Subsequent investigations after his arrest revealed several suspicious activities between the principal suspect and his accomplices.
“It has also been established that the suspect also raised funds through anonymous means to sponsor cyber terrorism and other related crimes.
“Evidence of this was derived after critical forensic analysis of the suspect’s crypto wallet transactions. The Inspector General of Police, IG Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the commitment of the force to maintaining peace and also reiterated that the Nigerian police force remains vigilant to take strict and severe action against any individual or group threatening the country’s stability, ensuring they face the full force of the law.”
Adejobi also reported that the suspect had illegally accessed and distributed police-restricted data, including documents from the Office of the President and directives from the Inspector General of Police.
“Investigations also revealed that the suspect was responsible for leaking a sensitive restricted document generated from the Office of the President to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“The suspect had also illegally accessed police-restricted document data and posted directives from the Office of the Inspector General of Police and many other restricted documents to jeopardize the security network in Nigeria.
“The complaints filed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation alleged that an anonymous blogger using the Twitter handle at PIDOM Nigeria published and distributed a restricted document on a sensitive matter of national security.”
PIDOM’s arrest, according to Adejobi, was necessary to safeguard national security and maintain public order.
He emphasized, “So the Nigerian Police National Cybercrime Center has done well in this regard to identify this man and subsequently apprehended the man. To protect national security, maintain public order, and identify and apprehend those engaged in criminal activities threatening the stability of our nation.”
When questioned about the police’s efforts to locate Hundeyin and Alade, Adejobi remarked, “I’m sure they are working assiduously to see how they can get them. Perhaps they must have sent an invitation letter to them. Or they must have contacted them one way or the other. I don’t know the plan the team has.
“But I’m sure since they have fingered them, they want to interrogate them for further action. The police will do the needful to make sure everyone involved in such crimes will be brought to book after thorough interrogation and investigation.”
Hundeyin, in response, raised concerns on X about PIDOM’s disappearance, sharing screenshots of messages from an anonymous associate of PIDOM who informed him of the situation.
