NEWS
Police Arrest 27-Year-Old Woman, Hafsat Abubakar, Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice
Police Arrest 27-Year-Old Woman, Hafsat Abubakar, Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a forged document falsely suggesting that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations.
The arrest followed a formal complaint by OPay Digital Services Limited, after a purported “official” notice announcing the suspension of the company’s operations began circulating across social media platforms and generated concerns among customers and members of the public.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the development during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Iniedu, the police received a formal petition from OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, seeking an urgent investigation into the origin of the document, as well as the identification and apprehension of those allegedly responsible for producing and distributing it.
The petition, he said, was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.
The police spokesman explained that the disputed document was deliberately designed to appear as an authentic corporate communication from OPay Nigeria Limited, thereby creating the impression that the fintech company was preparing to discontinue its services.
“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, 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 simulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.
Following the complaint, the NPF-NCCC commenced a digital forensic investigation aimed at determining how the document was created, where it originated from and how it was disseminated online.
“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.
The investigation subsequently led police operatives to the alleged source of the post and culminated in the arrest of Abubakar on September 4, 2026.
“On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” he said.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over the ability of digitally manipulated documents and fabricated corporate announcements to spread rapidly through social media, potentially affecting businesses, customers and financial markets before the information can be verified.
In the OPay case, the purported shutdown notice claimed that the fintech company would stop processing transactions and providing account-related services indefinitely from September 1, 2026.
The document, which was circulated online under the title “Official Note”, was subsequently disowned by OPay, which urged its customers and the general public to disregard the information and rely only on the company’s verified communication channels.
OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, described the notice as “completely false” and reaffirmed that the company remained fully operational.
The fintech company also identified several inconsistencies in the circulated document which, according to it, included the use of an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a layout that did not correspond with its established corporate communication format.
The controversy had also prompted OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, to confirm that the company was working with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to establish the source of the false information.
With the arrest of Abubakar, the police investigation is expected to focus on the circumstances surrounding the creation of the document, the motive behind its publication, and whether other individuals were involved in its circulation.
Iniedu stressed that the incident highlighted the dangers associated with digitally fabricated information, particularly where false claims concerning major financial and technology companies could trigger public panic, disrupt financial transactions and cause significant reputational damage.
He consequently cautioned members of the public against accepting or sharing sensitive information circulating on social media without first confirming its authenticity through official channels.
The police spokesman said the investigation remained ongoing, adding that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after the conclusion of the investigation.
The case underscores the increasing role of digital forensics in tackling cyber-related offences in Nigeria, as authorities intensify efforts to trace individuals behind fabricated documents and misleading information circulated through social media platforms.
