By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, identified as Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a viral false notice purporting to announce the shutdown of OPay Digital Services Limited.
The Police said the suspect was arrested following a digital forensic investigation into the origin and dissemination of the fake corporate communication, which was designed to appear as an official notice from OPay.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the false notice carried OPay’s logo, corporate branding, company name, as well as a purported management signature and endorsement, thereby giving it the appearance of an authentic corporate communication.
The notice falsely suggested that OPay was shutting down its operations, a development the Police said had the potential to mislead members of the public, trigger unnecessary anxiety among customers and undermine confidence in the financial services provider.
Following the circulation of the document online, operatives of the NPF-NCCC commenced digital forensic analysis and online tracing to determine its source and identify those responsible for its creation and dissemination.
The investigation eventually traced the circulation of the notice to an X account, @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, linked to Hafsat Abubakar.
The suspect was subsequently arrested by operatives of the NPF-NCCC on September 4, 2026, as investigators intensified efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and spread of the false communication.
Preliminary findings by the Police revealed that Abubakar initially published the fake notice on her X handle before subsequently sharing it through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSERH.
According to the Police, she tagged social-media influencers in the subsequent post and accompanied the publication with the alarming caption: “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
The message, coming at a time when information concerning financial institutions can spread rapidly across digital platforms, reportedly attracted approximately 572,000 views within minutes of being posted.
During the course of the arrest and investigation, operatives recovered three Apple mobile phones from the suspect. The devices have been retained as exhibits as investigators continue their digital forensic examination.
The Police said the suspect claimed during preliminary investigation that she obtained the purported shutdown notice from a WhatsApp status.
However, investigators are working to establish how the document originated, who created it, the motive behind its production and dissemination, and whether other individuals or groups were involved in circulating the false information.
The Force said the investigation remains ongoing, adding that the suspect, as well as any other person found culpable, would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The development underscores the growing concern over the use of social media platforms to disseminate fabricated information, particularly false claims involving financial institutions, businesses and other organisations whose operations directly affect members of the public.
The rapid spread of the purported OPay shutdown notice also highlights the potential consequences of unverified information in Nigeria’s increasingly digital financial environment, where millions of people rely on electronic platforms for payments, transfers and other financial transactions.
Commending the operatives involved in the investigation, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, praised the NPF-NCCC for its efforts in tracing the source of the online publication and effecting the arrest.
Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the circulation of false information through digital platforms.
The Inspector-General also stressed the importance of responsible use of social media, particularly where information has the potential to affect public confidence, businesses or financial institutions.
The Force consequently urged members of the public to exercise caution before acting on information circulated through social media, messaging applications and other online platforms.
It advised members of the public, especially customers of financial institutions and digital financial-service providers, to verify sensitive information through the official communication channels of the affected organisation before taking any action.
The Police further encouraged members of the public to promptly report suspicious online activities, fraudulent communications and other cyber-related offences to appropriate law-enforcement authorities.
The NPF-NCCC said its ongoing investigation would seek to unravel the full network, if any, behind the false OPay notice and ensure that all persons found to have participated in the offence are brought to justice.
In a statement sign by CSP Ani Iniedu,Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja,September 10, 2026
