Nigerians have taken to social media, particularly the X platform, to demand the release of an anonymous whistleblower known as PIDOM, who has reportedly been arrested by the federal government.
Operating under the username 99% Oppressed (@PIDOMNigeria), the whistleblower has gained popularity for leaking high-profile documents exposing corruption within the federal government, security agencies, state governments, and private companies.
In addition to whistleblowing, PIDOM has also been active in humanitarian efforts, using his platform to solicit funds for sick Nigerians.
On Friday, investigative journalist David Hundeyin reported that PIDOM had gone missing. In his article titled “SOS Alert: PIDOM NIGERIA Is Missing (And I Think We May Know Who Has Him),” Hundeyin revealed that an associate of PIDOM claimed he was arrested on August 5 in Port Harcourt and later transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, where he remains under the custody of the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC).
Naija News also reported that National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu had disclosed the arrest of several sponsors of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement, and the freezing of their associated crypto funds. Hundeyin suggested that the crypto wallet linked to the arrested sponsor matched PIDOM’s.
“If the government obtained PIDOM’s KYC information from Binance, it could mean they are holding him under severe conditions, possibly involving torture or worse,” Hundeyin speculated.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, there has been no official response from the federal government or any security agency since the report surfaced on Friday morning. This silence has fueled public outcry, with many Nigerians criticizing the government’s priorities.
Social media users have pointed out the government’s swift action against PIDOM compared to its inability to curb banditry or secure the release of citizens held by bandits. One user, @jollynony, criticized the government’s focus on suppressing demands for good governance while failing to address more pressing security issues.
Others, like @emmaikumeh, noted the contrast between the government’s alleged efforts to apprehend a whistleblower and its lack of action in rescuing kidnapped medical professionals. He urged the government to charge PIDOM in a court of law if they had any evidence against him, rather than resorting to unlawful detention.
Chude Nnamdi, another activist, expressed frustration that the government could track PIDOM but not apprehend high-profile figures like former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The arrest of PIDOM, if confirmed, has sparked widespread concern about the direction Nigeria is heading, with many fearing that activists and whistleblowers are becoming targets while criminals remain at large.
News Editor