Police Arrest Woman Over Alleged Fake OPay Shutdown Document

The OPay fake shutdown document has led to the arrest of a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, by the Nigeria Police Force.

The arrest was announced on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, during a press briefing at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.

According to the police, the investigation began after OPay Digital Services Limited submitted a petition on 31 August 2026. The company asked the authorities to investigate, identify and arrest those allegedly responsible for creating and circulating a document that falsely claimed OPay Nigeria Limited planned to shut down its operations.

The National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) reportedly used digital forensic techniques to examine the document and trace its source. Investigators said their work connected the document to a post published through the X account @Hafsat_ER_ABBA.

Police said the account was registered to and operated by Abubakar.

Following the investigation, NCCC operatives arrested Abubakar on 4 September 2026. The police identified her as a graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, 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 circulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.

The police said the petition prompted the cybercrime centre to begin a forensic examination of the material.

“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.

The authorities said the digital investigation helped them trace the alleged OPay fake shutdown document to the social media account before making the arrest.

“On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” Iniedu said.

The case highlights the role of digital forensics in investigating alleged online fraud and the circulation of documents presented as genuine corporate communications. The police said their intervention followed OPay’s request for an investigation into the source and circulation of the disputed document.

The OPay fake shutdown document case remains an allegation at this stage, with the police investigation focusing on the circumstances surrounding its creation and distribution.

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