By TheDailyNewsHub
Hafsat Abubakar, the 27-year-old woman arrested by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre over the circulation of a forged document claiming that OPay was shutting down its operations, says she deleted the post and publicly apologised after the fintech company identified the information as false.
Abubakar’s account emerged after the police announced her arrest over the alleged creation and circulation of a fake OPay notice that claimed the company would suspend its operations from September 1, 2026.
“After I posted it on my X page, I deleted it after I saw OPay’s notice that it was fake, and I publicly apologised. Five days later, I was picked up in Zaria, Kaduna State, following a petition by OPay,” Abubakar said.
According to reports, the disputed document was presented as an official OPay communication and falsely claimed that the fintech company would stop processing transactions and account-related services indefinitely from September 1. It also reportedly urged customers to withdraw their funds.
OPay subsequently dismissed the notice as false and assured customers that its operations remained normal. The company also pointed to irregularities in the document, including an outdated logo, a misspelt version of the company’s name and a format that did not correspond with its official communications.
The police said OPay Digital Services Limited submitted a formal petition on August 31 requesting an investigation into the source and circulation of the document.
The NPF National Cybercrime Centre subsequently deployed digital forensic tools to trace the document, which investigators said led them to an X account allegedly registered and operated by Abubakar.
Police operatives arrested her on September 4, according to Force Public Relations Officer Anietie Iniedu.
The police identified Abubakar as a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
An apology post attributed to Abubakar also surfaced following the arrest. In the post, she acknowledged sharing information claiming that OPay would go on an indefinite break and said she removed it after discovering that the information was false and misleading.
The Nigeria Police Force, however, said its investigation is still ongoing and that it is seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the fraudulent document, as well as identify any other individuals who may have been involved.
The police also said the suspect’s publication had the potential to cause public panic, disrupt financial activities and damage the reputation of the fintech company.
In a statement circulated by the police, investigators said three Apple mobile phones were recovered from Abubakar as exhibits. Police further alleged that the notice had been reposted from another X account with a message urging users to “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW,” and that the post attracted approximately 572,000 views within minutes.
The development has renewed concerns over the dangers of fabricated financial information circulating on social media, particularly claims involving banks, fintech companies and customers’ money.
The police have urged Nigerians to verify sensitive information through the official communication channels of financial institutions before sharing or acting on it.
OPay has similarly advised customers to rely on its verified platforms for information concerning its operations.
While Abubakar’s account indicates that she deleted the post and apologised after learning that the notice was false, the police investigation will determine whether she had any involvement in creating the forged document or whether other individuals were responsible for its production and wider circulation.
The case is expected to proceed further after the conclusion of the investigation, with police saying anyone found culpable will face prosecution.