The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a fake notice purportedly issued by OPay Digital Services Limited announcing the shutdown of the company’s operations.
The police said the suspect was arrested on September 4, 2026, following a digital forensic investigation into the origin and circulation of the false notice.
According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on behalf of the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on September 10, 2026, the notice was designed to appear as an official corporate communication from OPay, using the company’s logo, corporate branding, name and a purported management signature and endorsement.
The false notice claimed that OPay was shutting down its operations, a development the police said could mislead members of the public and create unnecessary panic among customers.
The NPF-NCCC commenced digital forensic analysis and online tracing after the notice began circulating to determine its source and identify those responsible for its dissemination.
The investigation reportedly traced the publication to the X handle @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, which the police linked to Abubakar.
Preliminary findings showed that Abubakar published the notice on her X account and later shared it through another X handle, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social media influencers and urged people to act on the false information.
The post was accompanied by the caption, “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
The police said the suspect claimed she obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status. The publication reportedly attracted approximately 572,000 views within minutes of being posted.
Operatives recovered three Apple mobile phones from the suspect, which were taken as exhibits.
The police said investigation was still ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the creation and circulation of the false notice and to establish whether other individuals were involved.
The suspect, together with any other person found culpable, will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations, the Force said.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended operatives of the NPF-NCCC for tracing the online publication and arresting the suspect.
He reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the circulation of false information through digital platforms.
The Force urged members of the public to exercise caution before acting on information circulated online, particularly information concerning financial institutions and financial services.
It advised members of the public to verify such information through the official communication channels of the affected institution and report suspicious online activities to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
