A 27-year-old woman has been arrested over a fake report claiming OPay would shut down its operations.
The Nigeria Police Force said the suspect allegedly created and shared the false document online.
The claim caused concern among OPay users, with some customers reportedly urged to withdraw their funds.
Police spokesperson Anietie Iniedu announced the arrest during a briefing in Abuja.
He said OPay Digital Services Limited filed a petition over the alleged fake document on August 31, 2026.
“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.
Police said digital forensic checks traced the document to an X account linked to Hafsat Abubakar.
“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.
Iniedu said officers arrested Abubakar on September 4.
“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 OPay shutdown report was previously denied by the fintech.
“OPay is not going on break by September. We’re here, and we’re going nowhere!” the company said.
OPay urged customers to verify information before sharing it.
“Always verify before you share. Filter the noise!” it added.
