By Niger Delta Herald
Concern is mounting in Bayelsa State following the reported disappearance of a social media influencer popularly known as Brainbox James, who his family says has not been reachable since Monday, August 24, 2026.
According to a report published by Gist Yentown, the family raised the alarm after efforts to contact James reportedly failed, with his telephone number said to have become unreachable.
The family reportedly told the platform that James had left home after receiving information that a woman wanted to purchase a polo shirt from him.
A family member was quoted as saying that James went to deliver the polo shirt to the woman and gave her his girlfriend’s telephone number before leaving.
However, when the family subsequently tried to reach him, they reportedly could not get through to him.
The family said they later contacted the telephone number James had left with the woman and allegedly received information that raised further concerns.
Alleged Abduction At Furniture Shop
According to the account attributed to the family, a witness in the area reportedly said James was at a furniture shop waiting for the woman to arrive and collect the item she had purchased.
The witness allegedly told the family that shortly after the woman arrived and saw James, a black van appeared at the location.
The men who reportedly emerged from the vehicle were said to be dressed in black and allegedly armed.
The witness reportedly claimed that the men confronted James and warned him about what he had been posting on Facebook.
The account further alleged that the men slapped the woman who was with James before allegedly placing black bags over his head and forcing him into the waiting van.
The family subsequently alleged that they had reason to believe that the men were operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
DSS Connection Yet To Be Independently Confirmed
Niger Delta Herald has not independently established that the men involved in the alleged incident were DSS personnel.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement from the DSS confirming the alleged arrest or detention of Brainbox James has been sighted by the newspaper.
It is also unclear what specific social media posts may have allegedly prompted the reported warning or whether James was formally arrested in connection with any offence.
The circumstances surrounding his reported disappearance therefore remain unclear.
The development has nevertheless generated concern among social media users in Bayelsa, with calls for authorities to clarify James’s whereabouts and establish what happened to him.
If the allegation of detention by security personnel is confirmed, questions would arise regarding the circumstances of his arrest, the reasons for his detention and his present whereabouts.
Niger Delta Herald is making efforts to obtain further information from the family and relevant security authorities.
This is a developing story.
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