The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a fake notice purporting to announce the shutdown of OPay Digital Services Limited.
The suspect was arrested on September 4, 2026, following a digital forensic investigation into the viral notice, which was designed to appear as an official corporate communication from OPay.
According to the police in a statement on Thursday, 10th September, 2026, the fabricated notice carried OPay’s logo, corporate branding, company name, as well as a purported management signature and endorsement. It falsely claimed that the financial technology company was shutting down its operations, a development capable of misleading customers and triggering unnecessary panic among members of the public.
Following the circulation of the notice, operatives of the NPF-NCCC commenced digital forensic analysis and online tracing to determine its source and identify those behind its dissemination.
The investigation traced the publication to an X account, @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, linked to Abubakar, leading to her arrest.
Preliminary findings showed that the suspect initially published the fake notice on her X handle before subsequently sharing it through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social media influencers and urged members of the public to “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
The suspect reportedly told investigators that she obtained the purported OPay notice from a WhatsApp status.
The police said the post generated approximately 572,000 views within minutes of its publication, underscoring the potential impact of the false information on customers and the wider financial ecosystem.
Three Apple mobile phones were recovered from the suspect as exhibits.
The Force said investigation was still ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the fake notice and establish whether other individuals were involved.
It added that the suspect, as well as any other person found culpable, would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, commended operatives of the NPF-NCCC for their swift response in tracing the online publication and arresting the suspect.
Disu reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to tackling cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the deliberate circulation of false information through digital platforms.
The Force urged members of the public to exercise caution before acting on information circulated online, particularly claims concerning financial institutions and services.
It advised Nigerians to verify such information through the official communication channels of the affected institution before taking any action, while encouraging members of the public to report suspicious online activities to relevant law-enforcement authorities.
The statement was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters, Abuja.