Police Nab 27-Year-Old Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, in connection with the creation and circulation of a fake document claiming that OPay Nigeria Limited was preparing to shut down its operations.

The arrest followed a petition by OPay Digital Services Limited requesting an investigation into the origin of the document and the identification of those behind its production and distribution.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the NPF National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.

According to Iniedu, OPay submitted the petition on August 31, 2026, through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

He said the company specifically requested the urgent tracing and apprehension of individuals responsible for producing and circulating the fraudulent material.

“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, received a formal petition from OPAY Digital Services Limited through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, requesting urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of persons responsible for the creation and simulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Digital Services Limited,” Iniedu said.

Following the petition, the cybercrime centre commenced a digital forensic examination of the disputed document in an effort to establish its source.

Iniedu explained that the investigation eventually led officers to an account on X allegedly operated by Abubakar.

“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @haifah_er_abba, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.

The suspect was subsequently arrested by police operatives on September 4, 2026.

“On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” he said.

The police described the incident as another illustration of the potential consequences of fabricated digital content, particularly when false information concerns a major financial services company.

According to the Force, such misinformation could create unnecessary panic among customers, cause financial disruptions and inflict reputational damage on businesses.

Iniedu consequently urged members of the public to exercise caution before forwarding or publishing sensitive information obtained online.

He advised Nigerians to verify potentially alarming claims through the official communication channels of the organisations concerned rather than relying on unverified social media posts.

The FPRO said the investigation into the matter remained ongoing, adding that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after the conclusion of the investigation.

The development followed an earlier denial by OPay of the viral claim that the fintech company would cease operations from September 1, 2026.

A document bearing the title “Official Note” had circulated across social media platforms, claiming that OPay would indefinitely stop processing transactions and providing account-related services from the stated date.

OPay dismissed the document as fake and urged its customers to obtain information about its services only through its verified communication platforms.

The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, described the purported shutdown notice as “completely false”, assuring customers that OPay remained fully operational.

The fintech company also highlighted several discrepancies in the fabricated document, including the use of an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a format that did not correspond with its established corporate communication style.

OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, had separately disclosed that the company was collaborating with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to trace the origin of the false publication.

The company further warned that individuals who knowingly disseminate false information capable of misleading the public about its operations could be subjected to legal action.