The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) has arrested Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old social media influencer, for creating and circulating a forged document falsely claiming that the fintech company OPay was shutting down its operations.
Force Public Relations Officer Anietie Iniedu announced the arrest at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
According to Iniedu, OPay Digital Services Limited filed a formal petition with the NCCC on August 31, 2026, requesting an urgent investigation into the source of the forged document.
“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center 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.
Police then deployed digital forensic tools to trace the document’s origin. “Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center 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,” Iniedu said.
Officers arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026. Iniedu confirmed she holds a degree in Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The forged document, titled “Official Note,” claimed OPay would halt all transactions and account services indefinitely from September 1, 2026, and urged customers to withdraw their funds beforehand.
OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, dismissed the claim as “completely false” and said the company remained fully operational. The company identified several flaws in the document, including an outdated logo, a misspelled brand name, and a layout that did not match its official communications.
OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, confirmed the company is cooperating with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to identify others involved in the fabrication. OPay also warned that anyone found circulating false information about its operations could face legal action.
Iniedu cautioned the public against sharing unverified claims online, noting that fabricated content can cause public panic, financial disruption, and reputational damage to businesses. He said the investigation continues and that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted.
Reactions to the arrest on X were divided. Some users accused the police of selective enforcement. User @InahKenneth wrote that authorities are “so swift in arresting minor cases but very dull in clamping down on terrorists, running a selective justice.” User @lhurdV made a similar point, stating, “The one accused of sponsoring terrorists has not even been called for questioning.”
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Others supported the arrest. User @Manlikerasha said, “Some Nigerian X creators they deserve prison because of their fake posts to extract impressions.” User @Fisayo, using the handle @AIAcademyHQ_, wrote, “Playing with people’s money like that na expensive joke.”
Several users suggested Abubakar brought the arrest on herself. User @jerry_emy commented, “This one don use her hand send herself to jail.” User @sto0511M said commenters had warned her before the arrest, adding that “99% of her comments were warning her and telling her Opay no be Naija person.”
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