What started as a troubling notice suggesting that OPay Nigeria Limited was about to shut down its operations has taken a dramatic turn, with the Nigeria Police Force arresting a 27-year-old woman allegedly linked to the document.
The suspect, identified as Hafsat Abubakar, was arrested in Abuja on September 4, 2026, following a cybercrime investigation launched after OPay Digital Services Limited petitioned the police.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, said the company approached the police on August 31, requesting an urgent investigation into the creation and circulation of what it described as a fraudulent document.
Investigators at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre reportedly subjected the document to digital forensic analysis. Their investigation allegedly traced the material to an X account, @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, which police said belonged to Abubakar.
According to the police, Abubakar is a 27-year-old graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The authorities said the disputed notice was falsely presented as an official communication from OPay, potentially creating confusion among customers and the wider public.
With the arrest, attention is now turning to the bigger question: Was Abubakar acting alone, and what was the motive behind the alleged fake shutdown announcement?
Police investigations are expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the document and whether other people were involved in its creation or circulation.
Discover more from NATIONAL BEAM
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
