Police arrest 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, over the alleged creation and circulation of a forged document claiming that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited would shut down its operations.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this at a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday, saying the arrest followed a formal petition filed by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026. The petition, submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, requested an urgent investigation, tracing and arrest of those behind the fraudulent document.

Iniedu said the document was falsely presented as an official OPay communication. “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 Nigeria Limited,” he said.

According to the FPRO, the NCCC deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the document and trace its origin to an X account, @haifah_er_abba, allegedly registered and 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 on the X handle, @haifah_er_abba, he said.

“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. He warned that digitally fabricated information could trigger public panic, financial disruption and reputational damage, urging the public to verify sensitive information through official channels.

The development followed OPay’s earlier denial of a viral claim that it would cease operations from September 1, 2026. A fabricated document titled “Official Note” had circulated online, claiming the fintech would stop processing transactions and account services indefinitely. OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, dismissed the notice as “completely false,” saying the company remained fully operational, while pointing to an outdated logo, misspelt brand name and a layout inconsistent with its official communications.

OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, also confirmed that the company was working with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the source of the false information. The police said the investigation remains ongoing and assured that anyone found culpable would face prosecution, while OPay warned that individuals deliberately spreading false information about its operations could face legal action.