The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center has detained Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old woman, for creating and circulating a fraudulent document claiming that fintech startup OPay Nigeria Limited was ceasing operations.
Anietie Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, announced this during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Iniedu, the arrest was made in response to a formal petition received by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, asking for an urgent investigation, tracking down, and apprehending individuals responsible for generating and spreading the false document.
He stated that the petition was made through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.
According to him, the document was deceptively presented as an official message from OPay Nigeria Limited.
“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, received a formal petition from OPAY Digital Services Limited through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, requesting urgent investigation, tracing, and apprehension of persons responsible for the creation and simulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.
The FPRO stated that the NCCC immediately deployed digital forensic tools to examine the document and trace its origin.
“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyze the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @haifah_er_abba, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.
Iniedu noted that the police operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026.
“On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” he said.
He stated that the incident illustrated the risks posed by digitally created material, especially when such content may cause public panic, financial upheaval, and reputational damage.
The police spokesman also urged members of the public not to share sensitive information without first validating it via proper means.
He stated that the inquiry was still ongoing and that any suspects found guilty would face prosecution once the probe was concluded.
OPay disputed a viral claim that it would cease operations on September 1, 2026, calling the announcement bogus and encouraging users to use its proper communication channels.
A false document titled “Official Note” appeared on social media, alleging that OPay would cease processing transactions and account services indefinitely beginning September 1.
Folayemi Joshua, OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, condemned the message as “completely false” and stated that the company was still fully operational.
The corporation also pointed out discrepancies in the paper, such as an obsolete logo, a misspelled brand name, and a layout that did not match its official communications.
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, acknowledged that the corporation was collaborating with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to determine the source of the fraudulent information.
The corporation cautioned that anyone who knowingly spreads false information about its operations could face legal consequences.
