By Our Reporter
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a false notice purporting to announce the shutdown of OPay Digital Services Limited.
The suspect was arrested on September 4, 2026, following a digital forensic investigation launched by the NPF-NCCC to trace the source and persons responsible for creating and disseminating the false communication. Three Apple mobile phones were also recovered from her as exhibits.
According to the Police, the fake notice was designed to resemble an official corporate communication from OPay, bearing the company’s logo, corporate branding, name and a purported management signature and endorsement. The notice falsely claimed that OPay was shutting down its operations, with the potential to mislead customers and cause unnecessary concern.
The investigation reportedly traced the publication to an X handle, @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, linked to Abubakar. Police said she subsequently shared the notice through another X handle, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social media influencers and accompanied the post with the caption, “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect claimed to have obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status. The Police said the publication attracted approximately 572,000 views within minutes of being posted.
The NPF-NCCC said investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the false notice and determine whether other persons were involved. The suspect, alongside anyone else found culpable, will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended NPF-NCCC operatives for tracing the online publication and arresting the suspect. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Police to combating cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the circulation 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 institutions concerned and report suspicious online activities to law enforcement authorities.
