A staff of the Abuja Geographic Information System, (AGIS), Mairiga Hassan Shaharu, has been arrested by the police in Abuja amid a hunt for the source who linked information for FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s alleged theft of Abuja land for his children.

Shaharu, who works with the Fresh Applications Unit of AGIS, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon by a team of police detectives, The Peoples Gazette reports. 

His whereabouts remained unknown as of Wednesday morning, raising fears among family members that he could be facing torture or worse.

A spokesman for the police confirmed the arrest but said details would be provided later. 

Shaharu’s department is responsible for processing new filings at AGIS, the agency that manages and verifies land ownership and asset records in the Federal Capital Territory.

Colleagues of Shaharu said they feared the minister would continue to “make mistakes” by targeting innocent low-to-mid-level officials who had no involvement in leaking the documents that revealed the scale of the minister’s alleged fraud.

Officials also claimed the minister has become increasingly paranoid and has been drinking heavily since the reports were published.

“He’s confused and moving fast, which is why he keeps making mistakes,” an official informed on the minister’s activity told The Gazette.

“He’s been drinking even more heavily now and cursing at everybody, including his wife.”

Wike’s wife, Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike, is a judge at the federal appellate court. A spokesman for the minister was not immediately available for comment on the arrest.

Documents obtained directly from the minister’s office and published on 26 June and 1 July revealed that at least 3,822 hectares of land, potentially worth $6.45 billion, were allocated by Mr Wike to his two sons, Jordan, 25, and Joaquin, 23.

The revelations have sparked widespread outrage, with the minister blaming political opponents for leaking the documents.

Some unrecognised groups have also appeared in the media defending Mr Wike, describing the reports as politically motivated.