The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a fake notice claiming that OPay Digital Services Limited had shut down its operations.
The suspect was arrested on September 4, 2026, following a digital forensic investigation launched by the NPF-NCCC to trace the source of the false notice.
According to the police, the fabricated communication was designed to resemble an official corporate announcement from OPay, using the company’s logo, branding, name and a purported management signature.
The notice falsely announced the shutdown of OPay’s operations, an action the police said had the potential to mislead members of the public and cause unnecessary concern among customers.
Following the circulation of the notice online, NPF-NCCC operatives conducted digital forensic analysis and traced its publication to an X account, @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, linked to Abubakar.
Police said preliminary investigations showed that Abubakar later shared the notice through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social media influencers and urged users to “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
The suspect reportedly told investigators that she obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status.
The post had attracted about 572,000 views within minutes of being published.
Police said three Apple mobile phones were recovered from Abubakar as exhibits, while investigations are continuing to establish how the fake notice was created and distributed.
The police also said efforts were ongoing to identify other individuals who may have been involved in the circulation of the false communication.
The suspect and anyone else found culpable will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations, according to the Force.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended NPF-NCCC operatives for tracing the online publication and arresting the suspect.
Disu also reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to tackling cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the spread of false information through digital platforms.
The Force urged members of the public to verify information obtained online, particularly claims concerning financial institutions and services, through the official communication channels of the organisations involved.
It also advised members of the public to report suspicious online activities to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.