- Police arrest social media influencer: Hafsat Abubakar was detained by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre for allegedly distributing a fabricated document.
- Fabricated OPay shutdown notice: The suspect posted a fake statement on X claiming the fintech giant was halting all customer transactions, accumulating over 500,000 views and causing widespread panic.
- Investigation and legal action: OPay filed a formal petition leading to the suspect’s apprehension, with authorities using digital forensics to trace the post before finalizing case files for formal prosecution.
Abuja — The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre arrested 27-year-old social media influencer Hafsat Abubakar in connection with a forged digital document. Operating under the X handle @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, the suspect allegedly distributed a fabricated notice claiming that fintech giant OPay would halt all customer transactions. The fake statement triggered massive panic across West African digital banking circles before law enforcement intervened.
According to official statements released by Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the crisis began when a fraudulent 'Official Note' surfaced online. The document utilized counterfeit branding, an outdated corporate logo, and a mock management signature to claim that account services would cease indefinitely. Within minutes of publication, the post amassed roughly 572,000 views.
Digital Forensics and Investigation Timeline
OPay Digital Services Limited responded swiftly to the online disturbance by filing a formal petition on August 31, 2026. The complaint was directed through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department. Investigators immediately deployed advanced tracking tools to isolate the origin of the threat.
Cybercrime operatives traced the digital footprint directly to Abubakar's primary account before she shared it through a secondary handle, @CUTE_HAFSERH, tagging prominent online figures with the alarming caption: 'REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW'. Police operatives apprehended the suspect on September 4, 2026, recovering three Apple mobile phones as physical exhibits during the operation.
Corporate Safeguards and Legal Consequences
Fintech representatives moved quickly to calm jittery account holders across local commercial sectors. Folayemi Joshua, OPay's Head of Corporate Communications, dismissed the viral claims as entirely baseless, confirming that core operational infrastructure remained fully secured. Chief Legal Counsel Akinfolabi Rokosu emphasized that the organization is actively collaborating with the Department of State Services to hold perpetrators accountable.
Law enforcement authorities used the incident to issue a stern warning regarding the unchecked propagation of unverified digital media. Analysts note that trust-based financial ecosystems are exceptionally vulnerable to coordinated disinformation campaigns. The suspect remains in detention while investigators finalize comprehensive case files for formal prosecution.
What caused the recent panic surrounding OPay operations in Nigeria?
The panic was sparked by a digitally forged corporate document distributed on X that falsely claimed the platform was shutting down. The viral post accumulated over 500,000 views in minutes, prompting an urgent police investigation and subsequent arrest of the responsible influencer.
Legal proceedings will continue at the conclusion of the cybercrime unit's ongoing review, with arraignment scheduled before local courts upon case file completion.
