Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the circulation of a false notice purporting to be an official communication from OPay Digital Services Limited and falsely announcing the shutdown of the company’s operations.
The NPF-NCCC said the suspect was arrested on 4 September 2026 following a digital forensic investigation and online tracing of the source of the viral notice. Three Apple mobile phones were also recovered from her as exhibits.
According to the Force, the false communication was designed to appear as an official corporate notice, bearing OPay’s logo, corporate branding, company name and a purported management signature and endorsement.
The notice falsely suggested that OPay was shutting down its operations, a development the police said was capable of misleading members of the public and causing unnecessary concern among the company’s customers.
Following the circulation of the notice, operatives of the NPF-NCCC commenced digital forensic analysis and online tracing to establish its source and identify those responsible for its dissemination.
The investigation traced the notice to the X handle, @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, which the police said was linked to Abubakar.
The Force said the suspect subsequently shared the notice through another X handle, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social-media influencers and accompanied the post with the caption, “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
During preliminary investigation, Abubakar reportedly stated that she obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status.
The police said the publication recorded approximately 572,000 views within minutes of being posted.
Three Apple mobile phones were recovered from the suspect and are being retained as exhibits as investigations continue.
The NPF-NCCC said the investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the false notice and to identify any other persons who may have been involved.
It added that the suspect, alongside any other person found culpable, would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, commended NPF-NCCC operatives for tracing the online publication and arresting the suspect.
He reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating cybercrime, digital fraud, impersonation and the circulation of false information through digital platforms.
The Force urged members of the public to exercise caution before acting on information circulated online, particularly information relating to financial institutions and services.
It advised the public to verify such information through the official communication channels of the concerned institution and promptly report suspicious online activities to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities.
The statement was signed by CSP Ani Iniedu, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on 10 September 2026.
