Abuja, Nigeria – In the midst of a national scandal over alleged land theft by Minister Nyesom Wike, police in Abuja have arrested Mairiga Hassan Shaharu, a civil servant with the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), sparking public outrage and fears of persecution.
Mr. Shaharu, attached to the Fresh Applications Unit at AGIS, was reportedly picked up on Tuesday by a team of detectives. His location remains unknown as of Wednesday morning, raising serious concerns among his family and colleagues about possible torture or mistreatment in custody.
Police have yet to release an official explanation. A spokesman said details would be provided later but has remained silent since.
Sources within AGIS said Shaharu had no connection to the source of the explosive Peoples Gazette series, which exposed how Mr. Wike allegedly allocated over 3,800 hectares of Abuja land—estimated to be worth over $6.45 billion—to his sons, Jordan (25) and Joaquin (23), in less than a year.
According to insiders, the minister has been acting erratically since the stories broke, allegedly lashing out at staff, drinking excessively, and blaming political rivals for the leaks. Reports also suggest that his wife, Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike, a federal judge, has not been spared his outbursts.
Officials described the arrest of Mr. Shaharu as misguided, emphasizing that Wike may be targeting low-ranking staff in a desperate attempt to uncover whistleblowers, rather than confronting the substance of the allegations.
Efforts to reach the minister’s spokesperson were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The Peoples Gazette revelations have ignited widespread criticism, with many calling for transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, government-aligned groups have dismissed the reporting as politically motivated—claims journalists have firmly denied, citing verified land documents sourced directly from Wike’s office.
