Why Nigerian police declared me wanted – investigative journalist, David Hundeyin | Read Details
Popular investigative journalist, David Hundeyin has been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force over allegation of leaking, distributing and publishing classified documents which are sensitive matter of national security.
According to a release issued on September 3, by the force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi;
“In an effort to protect national security,
maintain public order, identify and apprehend
those engaged in criminal activities
threatening the stability of our nation, the
operatives of the Nigeria Police Force
National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC)
have apprehended an Anonymous hacker in
connection with alleged criminal conspiracy,
offences against the Official Secrets Act,
leakage of classified ‘restricted’ documents,
acts likely to cause breach of public peace,
sedition, fraud, and tax evasion.
The complaint, filed by the Office of the
Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, (0SGF), alleged that an
anonymous blogger using the Twitter handle
@pidomnigeria published and distributed a
restricted document on a sensitive matter of
national security.
A discrete investigation was initiated to
identify those responsible for the leakage,
which led to the identification of Bristol Isaac
Tamunobifiri, Michael Temidayo Alade, and
David Hundeyin, as suspects in connection
with the alleged crimes.
The principal suspect, Bristol lsaac
Tamunobifiri was apprehended ata hotel in
Port Harcourt on Saturday, 5th August 2024,
by NPF-NCCC detectives, and in an attempt
to resist arrest, the suspect locked himself in a hotel room, smashed his phone, and flushed it down the toilet in an effort 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.
Investigations also revealed that the suspect
was responsible for leaking a sensitive
restricted document generated from the office
of the President to the Secretary of the
Government of the Federation.
The suspect had also illegally accessed
police-restricted data and posted directives
from the office of the Inspector-General of
Police, and many other restricted documents
with the aim of jeopardizing the security
network in Nigeria. It has also been
established that the suspect also raised funds
through anonymous means to sponsor
cyberterrorism 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, IGP Kayode
Adeolu Egbetokun PhD. NPM., has reaffirmed
the commitment of the Force to maintaining
peace and also reiterated that the Nigeria
Police Force remains vigilant to take swift and
severe action against any individual or group
threatening the country’s stability, ensuring
they face the full force of the law.
The IGP assures members of the public that
further investigations will continue to uncover
all facets of this conspiracy. The suspect has
however been charged to court and
remanded in prison custody.”
Reacting, Hundeyin via his X handle said he was declared wanted merely for practice journalism, which is his profession.
Hundeyin tweeted;
“Apparently, @DavidHundeyin is now a wanted criminal suspect in Nigeria.
What crime did this dangerous criminal commit? Journalism. It was journalism. He did journalism.”
