Police Arrest Suspect Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a suspect over the circulation of a fake notice claiming that OPay Digital Services Limited was shutting down its operations.

The statement, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, was issued from the Force Headquarters in Abuja on September 10, 2026.

The police said Hafsat Abubakar was arrested on September 4, following digital forensic analysis and online tracing that linked her to the circulation of the fake notice.

The fake communication was designed to resemble an official corporate notice, featuring OPay’s logo, corporate branding, company name and a purported management signature and endorsement.

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The notice falsely announced the shutdown of OPay’s operations, with the potential to mislead members of the public and create unnecessary concern among customers.

Following its circulation, operatives of the NPF-NCCC commenced digital forensic analysis and online tracing to identify the source of the publication and those responsible for disseminating it.

The investigation traced the notice to the X handle @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, linked to Abubakar, who was subsequently arrested by NPF-NCCC operatives.

Preliminary investigations showed that Abubakar published the notice on her X handle and later shared it through another account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social media influencers and accompanied the post with the caption, “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”

The suspect reportedly told investigators that she obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status.

The post reportedly attracted about 572,000 views within minutes of being published.

Three Apple mobile phones were recovered from the suspect and are being held as exhibits as investigations continue.

The police said investigators were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the false notice and determine whether other individuals were involved.

The suspect, alongside any other person found culpable, will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, commended the NPF-NCCC operatives for tracing the publication and arresting the suspect.

Disu also reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the spread of false information through digital platforms.

The Force urged members of the public to exercise caution before acting on information circulated online, particularly claims relating to financial institutions and services.

It advised the public to verify such information through the official communication channels of the affected institution and report suspicious online activities to relevant law-enforcement authorities.