The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over an alleged forged document claiming that fintech company OPay Digital Services Limited was shutting down its operations.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
Iniedu said the arrest followed a formal petition submitted by OPay on August 31, 2026, requesting an investigation into the creation and circulation of the fraudulent document.
He said the police cybercrime centre deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the document and trace its origin.
According to him, investigators traced the publication to an X account allegedly operated by Abubakar before police operatives arrested her on September 4.
Iniedu identified Abubakar as a 27-year-old graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The development followed the circulation of a fake document titled “Official Note”, which claimed that OPay would embark on a long and indefinite break from September 1.
The document falsely stated that the fintech would stop processing transactions and account-related services and advised customers to withdraw their funds.
OPay had earlier dismissed the notice as false and assured customers that its operations remained normal.
The company urged customers to disregard the message and rely on its verified communication channels for authentic information.
OPay also pointed out several inconsistencies in the document, including an outdated logo, an incorrect spelling of its brand name and a layout that differed from its official communications.
The fintech subsequently threatened legal action over the publication and demanded its removal, a retraction and an apology.
The X user associated with the original post later deleted it and acknowledged that the shutdown claim was false.
Iniedu said the incident demonstrated the potential danger of digitally fabricated information, particularly when such content targets financial institutions.
He warned that false information could trigger panic, disrupt businesses and cause reputational damage.
The police spokesman urged members of the public to verify sensitive information through official channels before sharing or acting on it.
He added that the investigation was continuing and that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after the conclusion of the process.
The arrest also highlights the growing challenge faced by businesses and regulators as fabricated documents and misleading social media posts become increasingly difficult for ordinary users to distinguish from genuine corporate communications.
For financial service providers, such misinformation can be particularly sensitive because false reports about the safety or availability of funds can prompt customers to make rushed financial decisions.
OPay remains operational and has continued to advise customers to obtain information about its services through its verified communication platforms.
