The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a fake notice purportedly announcing the shutdown of OPay Digital Services Limited.
Abubakar was arrested on September 4, 2026, following a digital forensic investigation launched by operatives of the NPF-NCCC to trace the origin of the false communication, which had gone viral on social media.
The fake notice was designed to resemble an official corporate communication from OPay, featuring the company’s logo, branding, name and a purported management signature and endorsement.
According to the police, the notice falsely claimed that OPay was shutting down its operations, with the potential to mislead customers, cause unnecessary panic and undermine confidence in the financial services provider.
The investigation traced the publication to the X handle @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, allegedly linked to Abubakar.
Police said the suspect subsequently shared the notice through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social-media influencers and urged members of the public to “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
During preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly told investigators that she obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status.
The post allegedly attracted about 572,000 views within minutes, significantly increasing its potential to cause public concern.
Three Apple mobile phones were recovered from the suspect and taken as exhibits, according to the police.
The NPF-NCCC said investigations are continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the fake notice and to establish whether other individuals were involved.
The police said Abubakar, alongside any other person found culpable, would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended NPF-NCCC operatives for tracing the online publication and arresting the suspect.
Disu reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the spread of false information through digital platforms.
The Force also urged members of the public to exercise caution before acting on information circulated online, particularly information concerning financial institutions and services.
It advised the public to verify such claims through the official communication channels of the affected institution and report suspicious online activities to law-enforcement authorities.
The statement was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on September 10, 2026, at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
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