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

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a forged document claiming that OPay Nigeria Limited planned to shut down its operations.

Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the arrest on Wednesday during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC headquarters in Abuja.

The investigation followed a formal petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting the tracing and arrest of those responsible for producing and circulating the document. The petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department.

Iniedu said the NPF-NCCC subsequently launched a digital forensic investigation to determine the source of the document and identify those behind its circulation. Police investigators traced the material to a post on the X account, @haifah_er_abba, which they said was registered and operated by Abubakar.

Police operatives arrested Abubakar on September 4. Iniedu identified her as a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The disputed document was designed to look like an official OPay communication and claimed that the fintech company would stop processing transactions and providing account services from September 1, 2026.

OPay had previously dismissed the notice as “completely false” and confirmed that its services remained operational. The company also pointed to what it described as irregularities in the document, including an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a format that did not match its official communications.

Iniedu warned that fabricated digital information concerning major financial institutions could create public anxiety, disrupt financial activities and damage corporate reputations. He urged members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing it.

The police said investigations are continuing and that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted after the process is concluded. OPay had also confirmed that it was working with the DSS and police to establish the source of the false notice and warned that deliberate circulation of false information about its operations could attract legal action.