Police Arrest Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice
Police Arrest 27-Year-Old Hafsat Abubakar Over the Alleged Creation and Circulation of a False Notice Claiming OPay Was Shutting Down Its Operations.
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 shutting down its operations. Police said the arrest followed a formal petition submitted by OPay on August 31, 2026.
According to the police, the document was presented as an official communication from OPay but was allegedly fabricated. Investigators said they deployed digital forensic tools to examine the document and trace its origin, eventually linking it to a post made through an X account that police said was operated by Abubakar.
Police operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4. The authorities identified her as a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and said the investigation is focused on establishing the circumstances surrounding the creation and distribution of the allegedly fraudulent notice.
The false notice reportedly claimed that OPay would stop processing transactions and account services from September 1. OPay publicly rejected the claim, describing the notice as completely false and assuring customers that its operations remained unaffected. The company also pointed to inconsistencies in the document, including branding and formatting issues.
The police warned the public against circulating sensitive information without first verifying it through official channels, noting that fabricated digital information can cause public panic, financial disruption and reputational damage. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities said anyone found culpable would face prosecution after the investigation is concluded.
