The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a fake document claiming that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations.
Drivetvnews gathered that the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja.
According to Iniedu, the arrest followed a petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, seeking an investigation into the origin of the fraudulent document and the arrest of those responsible for its circulation.
He said the document was designed to appear as an official communication from OPay and falsely claimed that the company would stop providing transaction and account services from September 1.
Following the petition, the NCCC deployed digital forensic tools to investigate the document and trace its source.
The police said their investigation linked the document to a post published through the X account, @haifah_er_abba, which was allegedly operated by Abubakar.
Iniedu said operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4, describing her as a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The police spokesman warned that fabricated digital content could cause public panic, financial disruption and damage to the reputation of businesses and individuals.
He advised members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing it online.
Iniedu added that the investigation was still ongoing and that anyone found culpable would face prosecution after the conclusion of the process.
OPay had earlier dismissed the viral shutdown notice as false and assured customers that its services remained operational.
The company also identified several inconsistencies in the fake document, including the use of an outdated logo, an incorrectly spelt brand name and a format that did not match its official communications.
OPay said it was working with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, to identify those behind the false information.
