A 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, has been arrested by the police for allegedly creating and circulating a forged document falsely suggesting that leading fintech company, OPay, was shutting down its operations in Nigeria.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, saying the arrest was effected by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.
Iniedu said the arrest followed a formal petition received from OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting an urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of those responsible for creating and circulating the fraudulent document.
He added that the petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.
According to him, the document was falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited.
“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, 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 simulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.
The police spokesman explained that the NCCC immediately deployed digital forensic tools to examine the document and trace its origin.
“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @haifah_er_abba, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.
Iniedu said police operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026.
“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,” he said.
He said the incident demonstrated the dangers posed by digitally fabricated information, particularly when such content could trigger public panic, financial disruption and reputational damage.
The FPRO also warned members of the public against sharing sensitive information without first verifying it through official channels.
He said the investigation was ongoing and assured that suspects found culpable would face prosecution after the conclusion of the investigation.
