Police arrest 27-yr-old woman over fake OPay shutdown notice
The Nigeria Police Force 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 shutting down its operations.
The arrest was announced on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, during a press briefing at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.
Iniedu said the investigation followed a formal petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, seeking the investigation and arrest of those behind the document.
“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-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 circulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.
He said the NCCC subsequently deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the document and trace its origin.
“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.
The police spokesman said operatives arrested Abubakar 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,” Iniedu said.
Recall Digital financial services provider OPay dismissed reports claiming that it will suspend operations from Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The rumour, which circulated on social media, claimed that the fintech would embark on an indefinite break and stop processing transactions and account-related services.
The report also urged OPay customers to withdraw their funds ahead of the purported shutdown, prompting concerns among some users.
However, OPay has described the claim as false and malicious, assuring customers that it has no plans to stop its operations.
“OPay is not going on break by September. We’re here, and we’re going nowhere!” the company said in a social media post on Sunday.
The fintech also urged customers to be cautious of unofficial information circulating online, noting that genuine communications from the company can be distinguished from fake posts.
“True OPay users know how to identify our official communications. Take a closer look at the viral post, and you’ll spot the red flags,” it said.
OPay advised members of the public to verify information before sharing it, particularly when such claims concern their finances or accounts.
The company added, “Always verify before you share. Filter the noise!”
It further encouraged customers to rely on its verified social media platforms for updates and other official communications.
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