Woman Arrested Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice, Regrets Sharing Unverified Claim

Hafsat Abubakar, the social media user arrested by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) over a fake notice claiming that OPay was shutting down its operations, has expressed regret over sharing the information without verifying its authenticity.

Abubakar said she did not know the notice was false when she reposted it and acknowledged that she should have confirmed the information before publishing it online. She made the remarks while speaking to journalists after being presented by the police in Abuja.

The controversy began after a purported OPay notice circulated widely on social media, claiming that the digital financial services company would shut down operations and suspend transaction processing. The message urged customers to withdraw their funds immediately to avoid possible inconvenience.

According to the police, the publication was designed to look like an official corporate communication from OPay, using the company’s name, logo, branding and a purported management endorsement. Authorities said the nature of the document had the potential to mislead customers and create unnecessary panic.

The NPF-NCCC said it commenced digital forensic analysis and online tracing after the false notice gained traction. The investigation reportedly traced the publication to the X account @HAIFAH_ER_ABBA, which was linked to Abubakar.

Police said preliminary findings showed that the notice was subsequently shared through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, where social media influencers were tagged. The post was accompanied by a message urging people to remove their money from OPay, and investigators said it attracted approximately 572,000 views within minutes.

Abubakar, however, told journalists that she obtained the material from a WhatsApp status and did not create the false notice herself. She said she deleted her post and issued a public apology after OPay alerted her that the information was false.

The suspect said OPay gave her a deadline to remove the post and apologise, adding that she complied before the stipulated time. She said she was subsequently arrested at her home in Zaria, Kaduna State, on September 4 following a petition by the fintech company.

Police said three Apple mobile phones were recovered from Abubakar as exhibits. The NPF-NCCC added that its investigation remains ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation and dissemination of the false notice and determine whether other individuals were involved.

The police said Abubakar and any other persons found culpable would be charged to court after the investigation is concluded. The development has also renewed warnings about the dangers of sharing unverified information online, particularly claims involving banks, fintech companies and other financial institutions.

Abubakar herself urged Nigerians to verify information before posting or reposting it on social media. Her warning comes as the case highlights how rapidly unverified financial claims can spread online and potentially trigger panic among customers.