Photo Credit: NPF-NCCC / Gistlover.com
Police Cybercrime Centre Arrests 27-Year-Old Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Report
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, for allegedly fabricating and circulating a false document claiming that financial service provider OPay was shutting down operations in Nigeria.

The arrest was disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to the police, the action followed a formal petition filed by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026. The company had asked security agencies to investigate the source of a viral notice which falsely stated that OPay would go on an indefinite break from September 1 and urged customers to withdraw their money.

OPay had earlier debunked the notice, describing it as fake and reassuring customers that its services remained fully operational. The company also petitioned the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), warning that such misinformation could trigger panic and disrupt the financial system.

Investigators at the NPF-NCCC said digital forensic analysis traced the forged document to an X (formerly Twitter) account, @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, allegedly operated by Abubakar. She was arrested on September 4, 2026.

The arrest has since sparked mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians calling for stricter punishment for fake news peddlers while others questioned the efficiency of tracking systems.

Investigations are still ongoing.

Source: Gistlover.com –