The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, for allegedly creating and circulating a forged document falsely indicating that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was planning to shut down its operations.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday.
Iniedu said the arrest followed a formal petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, seeking an urgent investigation, tracing and arrest of those behind the creation and distribution of the fraudulent document.
He said the petition was forwarded through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.
According to him, the document was deliberately fabricated and falsely portrayed as an official statement issued by OPay Nigeria Limited.
“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.
The FPRO said the NCCC promptly deployed digital forensic equipment to analyse the document and establish its source.
“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, @haifah_er_abba, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.
Iniedu said operatives of the police subsequently arrested 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.
He said the development highlighted the risks associated with digitally fabricated content, particularly when such information could cause public panic, disrupt financial activities and harm the reputation of an organisation.
The police spokesman further cautioned members of the public against circulating sensitive information without first confirming its authenticity through official channels.
He said the investigation remained ongoing and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after the investigation was concluded.
According to media reports, OPay dismissed a viral claim that it would cease operations from September 1, 2026, describing the purported notice as false and advising customers to depend on its official communication channels.
A fake document titled “Official Note” had circulated across social media platforms, claiming that OPay would indefinitely stop processing transactions and providing account services from September 1.
OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, described the document as “completely false” and stated that the company remained fully operational.
The fintech company also identified inconsistencies in the purported notice, including the use of an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a design that was inconsistent with its official communications.
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, had also confirmed that the company was collaborating with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to establish the source of the false information.
The company warned that persons who intentionally circulated false claims concerning its operations could be subjected to legal action.
