The family of Isaac Tamunoibifiri Bristol-Alagbariya, widely believed to be the person behind the popular X account PIDOMNIGERIA, alongside Ijaw elders and stakeholders, have demanded his immediate and unconditional release from police custody.
They allege his detention by the Nigeria Police is both unlawful and inhumane.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt, the family revealed that Isaac Bristol was arrested on August 5, 2024, by plainclothes officers. The officers, arriving in two Lexus RX350 SUVs, forcibly entered his room at the Osmosis Hotel on Ada Road and took him to an undisclosed location. The family describes the arrest as a “Gestapo-style operation.”
The family further explained that they were not informed of the arrest until the following day, blaming the hotel’s management for collaborating with the police. Once notified, they began searching for Isaac, better known as PIDOM, at various police stations, but met with repeated denials of his presence. It was only later that they discovered he was being held at the Mini-Okoro Police Station’s anti-kidnapping unit on Old Aba Road.
On August 10, PIDOM was reportedly transferred to the National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC) in Abuja. According to the family, during his detention in Port Harcourt, Isaac was subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse, including being handcuffed, beaten, and given only a single meal per day.
“Isaac was tortured without trial or conviction,” the family stated. “At the Mini-Okoro anti-kidnapping unit, he faced physical and psychological abuse, including defamation and other degrading treatment.”
To further compound the family’s distress, police officers in Port Harcourt allegedly labeled PIDOM as a “notorious kidnapper and armed robber” and publicly announced these accusations at both the Port Harcourt and Abuja airports during his transfer. However, upon his arrival in Abuja, these charges were mysteriously altered to allegations of “unlawful possession, leakage of classified documents, and cyber-related offenses.”
“This sudden change in charges is outrageous and seems to reflect deep corruption within the Nigeria Police Force,” the family said. “More disturbing is that, shortly after Isaac’s arrest, officers were spotted wearing his personal belongings, including shoes, perfumes, and designer clothing, taken from his hotel room. This level of misconduct should not be tolerated.”
The family and Ijaw leaders condemned the blatant disregard for Isaac’s rights, highlighting that Nigerian law presumes innocence until proven guilty. They also expressed concern over a report from West Africa Weekly that PIDOM is likely to be transferred to a secret underground detention facility operated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, further denying him access to his family, friends, and legal counsel.
The stakeholders and family members insist that these actions represent a severe violation of Isaac’s basic human rights and have called on the Nigerian authorities to uphold justice by releasing him immediately.
