The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of a 27-year-old Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a forged document claiming that OPay was shutting down its operations in Nigeria.
The arrest was disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu in Abuja, stated that, investigation began after OPay Digital Services Limited submitted a formal petition on August 31, requesting the identification and arrest of those responsible for the fraudulent document. The National Cybercrime Centre subsequently used digital forensic tools to trace the document to a post from an X account allegedly operated by Abubakar.
Police operatives arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026. The forged notice had falsely claimed that OPay would stop processing transactions and account-related services from September 1, prompting concerns among customers and encouraging users to withdraw their funds.
OPay had already dismissed the shutdown claim as false, assuring customers that its services remained fully operational. The company also said it was working with the police and Department of State Services to investigate those behind the misinformation, while urging the public to rely on its verified communication channels for accurate information.
