Police Arrest Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice

Nigeria's National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman over a forged notice that falsely claimed fintech company OPay was shutting down its operations, a fabrication that spread widely on social media and prompted some customers to consider withdrawing their funds. The suspect, Hafsat Abubakar, was arrested on September 4, 2026, after investigators traced the false notice to an X account linked to her, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, who disclosed the arrest at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. Police said the investigation began after the National Cybercrime Centre received a formal petition from OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, requesting an urgent investigation of those responsible for the document. According to the police statement, the forged notice was designed to appear as an official corporate communication, bearing OPay's logo, corporate branding, company name and a purported management signature.