Fresh Trouble For Woman As Police Nab Her Over Alleged Fake OPay Notice

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a fraudulent document claiming that OPay Nigeria Limited planned to shut down its operations.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the arrest followed a petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting an investigation into the origin of the fake notice and the arrest of those responsible for creating and circulating it.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the development during a press briefing at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.

Iniedu said the National Cybercrime Centre launched a digital forensic investigation after receiving the petition. According to him, investigators analysed the disputed document and traced its circulation to an account on X identified as @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, which the police said was registered to and operated by Abubakar.

Following the forensic investigation, NCCC operatives reportedly arrested Abubakar in Abuja on September 4, 2026.

The police identified the suspect as a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The fake notice had claimed that OPay would suspend its operations from September 1, 2026, and stop processing transactions and account-related services indefinitely. It also reportedly advised customers to withdraw their funds from the platform.

However, OPay had already dismissed the notice as false and assured customers that its services remained fully operational. The fintech company also urged Nigerians to rely on its verified communication channels when seeking information about its operations.

The police said the investigation was initiated to identify those behind the fraudulent communication and determine the circumstances surrounding its creation and circulation. Further legal action is expected to follow as the investigation progresses.