The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the creation and circulation of a forged document falsely suggesting that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations. Force PRO Anietie Iniedu disclosed this at an NPF-NCCC press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday: the arrest followed a formal petition received from OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, via the office of the DIG, Force Criminal Investigation Department.
'The NCCC deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle @haifah_er_abba, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar.' Police operatives arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026 - a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The police said the fabrication could trigger public panic, financial disruption and reputational damage, and warned suspects found culpable would face prosecution.
PUNCH Online had reported OPay denied a viral claim that it would shut down operations from September 1, 2026: a fabricated 'Official Note' circulated claiming OPay would stop processing transactions indefinitely. OPay's Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, described it as 'completely false' - citing an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a layout inconsistent with official communications - while Chief Legal Counsel Akinfolabi Rokosu confirmed OPay was working with the DSS and Police to investigate; the company warned that individuals deliberately spreading false information could face legal action. Source: punchng.com/police-arrest-woman-over-fake-opay-shutdown-notice
