The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over her alleged involvement in the creation and circulation of a forged document claiming that fintech company OPay was shutting down its operations in Nigeria.
Abubakar was arrested on September 4, 2026, following an investigation into a viral social media post that triggered panic among OPay customers and reportedly prompted some users to withdraw funds from the platform.
The police disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Abuja, describing the incident as an example of the growing threat posed by digitally fabricated information capable of disrupting businesses, financial systems and public confidence.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anietie Iniedu, said the investigation commenced after the NPF-NCCC received a formal petition from OPay Digital Services Limited concerning the forged publication.
He said the petition, received on August 31, requested an urgent investigation, tracing and arrest of those responsible for creating and circulating the fraudulent document, which was falsely presented as an official communication from OPay Nigeria Limited.
According to Iniedu, investigators deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the publication and traced it to an X account allegedly operated by Abubakar.
“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre 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.
“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on an X handle operated by Hafsat Abubakar.”
He added: “On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NPF-NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.”
The police said investigations into the matter are ongoing and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Iniedu also urged members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing or acting on it.
The arrest followed a petition by OPay to security agencies, including the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, over a viral message alleging that the fintech would suspend operations from September 1.
The false publication urged customers to withdraw their funds before the purported shutdown, causing concern among some users and prompting the company to seek the intervention of security agencies.
Speaking earlier at a press conference, OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, said the company reported the matter because the false information had the potential to undermine confidence in the financial system and cause significant financial losses.
Rokosu maintained that OPay remained fully operational in Nigeria and warned that those responsible for originating and circulating the false claims would face legal consequences.
OPay currently operates in Nigeria, Indonesia, Egypt and Pakistan, with Nigeria remaining its largest market.
According to the company’s 2025 audited financial statements reviewed by Nairametrics, Nigeria accounted for 88.1 per cent of OPay’s total revenue during the year, while Indonesia contributed 9.9 per cent, Egypt 1.6 per cent and other markets 0.4 per cent.
The fintech also recorded significant growth in transaction volumes, processing a Gross Transaction Value of $358 billion in 2025, more than double the $166.2 billion recorded in 2024, highlighting its expanding role in Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem.
Boluwatife Enome
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