The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested Hafsat Abubakar, the individual linked to the circulation of a fake OPay shutdown notice which viral in August.
Digital forensic analysis by the NPF-NCCC traced the circulating notice to the X handle, @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA. It was linked to 27-year-old Hafsat Abubakar, a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Operatives arrested her on September 4, 2026, and recovered three Apple mobile phones in her possession as exhibits. 
In a press release dated September 10, 2026, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu stated that the false communication was deliberately designed to mislead the public. It created unnecessary concern among OPay customers.
Further investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the notice’s creation and whether there are more people involved. The suspect and any other persons found culpable will be charged to court once investigations conclude.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu has commended the NPF-NCCC operatives for their swift work. He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to tackling cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation, and the spread of false information online.
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How the Fake OPay Shutdown Notice Sparked Panic
On August 30, 2026, a document designed as an “Official Note” from OPay Digital Services Limited began circulating on X, WhatsApp, and other platforms.
The notice claimed that the company would suspend all transaction processing and account services indefinitely from September 1, 2026. It further advised customers to “remove your money now.”
The fake shutdown notice carried OPay’s former logo, similar branding, and a purported management signature. That made it look authentic enough to cause genuine concern among users of one of Nigeria’s largest digital payment platforms.
OPay moved quickly, publicly dismissing the claim as completely false. It stressed that its operations remained fully active across Lagos, Abuja, and the rest of the country.
The company’s Head of Corporate Communications and other officials repeatedly reassured customers that services were uninterrupted and that funds were safe.
Legal Notices
OPay also issued legal notices to some of the accounts, amplifying the message, and later filed a formal petition with the police on seeking investigation and apprehension of those responsible.
The post that drew particular attention came from the X handle @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, which is also linked to @CUTE_HAFSERH. The user published the notice, tagged influencers, and added the urgent caption “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
According to the NPF, the post racked up roughly 572,000 views within minutes. The account holder, in response to the legal notice, later claimed she had simply shared something she saw on a WhatsApp status.
In the statement released by the NPF via its X account, the police urged Nigerians to verify information relating to financial institutions through official channels before acting. The force also advised them to report suspicious online activity promptly.
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