The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a woman over a viral fake notice claiming that OPay Digital Services Limited was shutting down, after the publication reportedly garnered about 572,000 views within minutes.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) traced the circulation of the false notice to an X handle linked to Hafsat Abubakar.
Iniedu said the false announcement was designed to appear as an official corporate notice, bearing OPay’s logo, corporate branding, company name and a purported management signature and endorsement.
He said the notice falsely suggested that the company was shutting down its operations, a development capable of misleading members of the public and causing unnecessary concern among customers.
According to him, 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.
He said the investigation traced the notice to the X handle @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, linked to Abubakar, who was subsequently arrested by NPF-NCCC operatives on September 4, 2026.
Iniedu said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect published the notice on her X handle and subsequently shared it through another X handle, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where she tagged social media influencers and accompanied the post with the caption, “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.”
He said Abubakar told investigators that she obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status.
The Force spokesman said the publication reportedly recorded approximately 572,000 views within minutes of being posted.
He said three Apple mobile phones were recovered from the suspect as exhibits, adding that investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the false notice and identify any other persons who may have been involved.
Iniedu said the suspect, alongside any other person found culpable, would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Force Public Relations Officer said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the NPF-NCCC operatives for their efforts in tracing the online publication and effecting the arrest of the suspect.
He quoted the IGP as reiterating 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 members of 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.
