Police Apprehend Hacker Who Breaches National Security, Name David Hundeyin as Accomplice in Cybercrimes Charges
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has apprehended an anonymous hacker, Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri, whom it alleges operates under the X handle @pidomnigeria, as suspects 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.
Journalist and social critic David Hundeyin, along with Michael Temidayo Alade, has also been named in connection with these crimes.
According to the police, both Hundeyin and Alade are alleged accomplices in the illegal access and leaking of sensitive documents and similar activities that could jeopardise Nigeria’s security networks.
Addressing newsmen, on Tuesday, at the Force Headquarters, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the arrest of the suspect is aimed at protecting national security.
He also stated that the effort is to maintain public order, identify and apprehend those engaged in criminal activities threatening the stability of the nation.
According to him, “The complaint, filed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), 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 Isaac Tamunobifiri, was apprehended at a 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.”
ACP Adejobi further stressed that “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 jeopardising 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.”
However, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, 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 also assured 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.
