The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) reportedly subjected Isaac Bristol, a undercover journalist known popularly by his incognito PIDOMNIGERIA, to inhumane treatment after he was picked on August 5, 2024.
The whistleblower was declared missing after his long absence from the digital space.
PIDOMNigeria, well known for exposing high-profile corruption and human rights abuses in the country, had gone silent since August 15, 2024.
With over 200,000 followers, his prolonged absence sparked concerns among the Nigerian online community, prompting a trending campaign, #FreePidom, calling for his release.
A document circulating on the X platform titled, ‘Police Administrative Bail Condition’ and dated August 15, 2024, the same day the whistleblower stopped being active online, alleged that PIDOMNIGERIA, was identified as Bristol Isaac.
However, on Friday, an intervention team involving Omoyele Sowore, David Hundeyin, Raphael Adebayo, Deji Adeyanju and Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was able to establish that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) housed Bristol after the National Cybercrime Center (NCCC) tracked and abducted him from a location in Nigeria’s southeast.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the Nigerian Police Force, Isaac told representatives of the team that the police abducted and kept him in solitary confinement for at least six days in an anti-kidnapping unit before transferring him to a different facility.
He was later transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department custody.
Deji Adeyanju, who spoke with FIJ in an interview after meeting with Isaac in custody on Friday, narrated how the police broke into his house and abducted him.
“He told us they came like armed robbers. They were dressed in mufti, about 15 policemen. They broke in and dragged him away like a criminal,” Adeyanju was quoted.
“They threw him into a hole somewhere in an anti-kidnapping unit of the police. There, they denied him food, water and access to other human beings. He was in solitary confinement for at least six days, and they kept handcuffs on him throughout.
“He showed us his wrists; they were bruised from wearing handcuffs for that long. They did not allow him access to a lawyer or family members.”
Adeyanju also said he saw Isaac in the same clothes the police abducted him in. The microblogger had worn the same piece of clothing for at least 18 days.
With the police demanding two level 16 civil servants who owned landed property worth at least N500 million in Abuja as sureties for Isaac’s bail, the conditions for his release are stringent.
It was gathered that the police are set to charge him in court on Monday.
The national police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi said he was unaware of the matter. Adejobi promised to get back to FIJ. As of press time, he had not.
Isaac’s arrest became public when Hundeyin published details of his conversation with someone who claimed to be affiliated with the microblogger.
“After coming under immense pressure from the Nigerian public and an intervention involving @Mazi_OJD, @YeleSowore, @adeyanjudeji, @Adebayo_Ralph and myself, @PoliceNG has confirmed that @PIDOMNIGERIA is alive and well in detention at FCID Abuja.
“A member of our intervention team on the ground in Abuja physically laid eyes on him a few minutes ago and she confirmed that he is alive and well. According to the Police, he will be arraigned in court next week.
“We are requesting a copy of his charge sheet so that a bail application can be prepared. Nigerians must keep the pressure on so that this goalpost does not shift,” Hundeyin wrote.
Nigeria is well known for incarcerating journalists discharging their job – especially those who report about corruption activities, abuse of power, crime against humanity and other investigations.