POLICE ARREST 27-YEAR-OLD WOMAN OVER FAKE OPAY SHUTDOWN NOTICE
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a forged document claiming that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was planning to shut down its operations.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja.
According to Iniedu, the arrest followed a petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, seeking an urgent investigation and the identification and arrest of those behind the fraudulent document.
He said the petition was filed through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.
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Iniedu explained that the NCCC immediately deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the document and trace its source.
He said the investigation linked the document to a post published on the X account @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, which was allegedly operated by Abubakar.
“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,” Iniedu said.
The police spokesman said the incident highlighted the risks associated with digitally fabricated information, particularly when false claims could cause public panic, financial disruption and reputational damage to organisations.
He urged members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing it online.
Iniedu added that investigations were still ongoing, assuring that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after the conclusion of the probe.
The development followed OPay’s earlier denial of a viral notice claiming that the fintech company would cease operations from September 1, 2026.
The company described the document as fake and advised customers to rely only on its verified communication channels for information about its services.
The fabricated document, titled “Official Note,” had claimed that OPay would indefinitely stop processing transactions and providing account services from September 1.
OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, dismissed the notice as false, while the company also highlighted discrepancies in the document, including an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a format inconsistent with its official communications.
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, said the company was collaborating with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to identify those responsible for the false information.
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