The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a fake notice falsely announcing the shutdown of OPay Digital Services Limited.
In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja CSP Ani Iniedu said the suspect was arrested on September 4, 2026, following a digital forensic investigation launched after the purported corporate notice went viral on social media. Three Apple mobile phones were recovered from her as exhibits.
The fake notice was designed to resemble an official communication from OPay, featuring the company’s logo, corporate branding, name and a purported management signature and endorsement. It falsely claimed that the financial technology company was shutting down its operations, with the potential to mislead customers and trigger unnecessary panic.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, NPF-NCCC operatives conducted digital forensic analysis and online tracing to determine the origin of the publication and identify those responsible for its dissemination.
The investigation reportedly traced the notice to the X handle, @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, linked to Abubakar. Investigators found that she subsequently shared the notice through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, tagging social-media influencers and accompanying the post with the warning: “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
During preliminary investigation, the suspect reportedly told investigators that she obtained the purported notice from a WhatsApp status. The post subsequently attracted approximately 572,000 views within minutes, significantly amplifying the false information.
The police said investigations are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the fake notice and to determine whether other individuals were involved.
Abubakar and any other persons found culpable are expected to be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, commended NPF-NCCC operatives for swiftly tracing the online publication and arresting the suspect.
Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to tackling cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the spread of false information through digital platforms.
The Force urged members of the public to exercise caution when encountering information circulated online, particularly claims concerning banks, fintech companies and other financial services.
It advised citizens to verify such information through the official communication channels of the affected institutions before taking any action and to report suspicious online activities to law-enforcement authorities.
