Police Arrest Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged production and circulation of a fake document claiming that OPay Nigeria Limited planned to shut down its operations.

According to Ireporter Online, the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the arrest on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.

Iniedu said the investigation followed a formal petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting authorities to identify and apprehend those allegedly responsible for creating and circulating the fraudulent notice.

According to the police spokesman, the National Cybercrime Centre deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the document and establish its source.

The investigation reportedly traced the document to a post published through the X handle, @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, which police said was registered to and operated by Abubakar.

Following the forensic investigation, operatives of the National Cybercrime Centre arrested Abubakar in Abuja on September 4, 2026.

The police identified the suspect as a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Iniedu said the petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja.

He explained that OPay had sought urgent investigation into the origin of the document and the arrest of individuals allegedly involved in its creation and dissemination.

The police spokesman said the document was falsely presented as an official communication from OPay Nigeria Limited and was circulated despite not being authorised by the company.

The arrest followed the police’s use of digital forensic techniques to establish a link between the disputed document and the social media account allegedly operated by Abubakar.

The suspect is expected to face further investigation as authorities continue efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and circulation of the alleged fake notice.