By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the alleged creation and circulation of a fake document claiming that OPay Nigeria Limited planned to shut down its operations.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the arrest on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja.

According to the police, the investigation followed a formal petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting the identification and arrest of those responsible for allegedly creating and circulating the fraudulent document.

National Assembly Shifts Resumption Date To September 29

Iniedu said the petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

He explained that following approval of the petition, operatives of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre deployed digital forensic tools to investigate the origin and circulation of the document.

The police said the forensic investigation traced the document to a post made through the 𝕏 account @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, which investigators alleged was registered to and operated by Hafsat Abubakar.

“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, received a formal petition from OPAY Digital Services Limited through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, requesting urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of persons responsible for the creation and circulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.

Police Trace Document to 𝕏 Account

The police spokesman said investigators subsequently subjected the alleged fake document to digital forensic examination.

According to him, the analysis led investigators to the 𝕏 handle @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, which the police said was linked to Abubakar.

“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @Hafsat_ER_ABBA, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” Iniedu said.

Following the findings, NCCC operatives arrested Abubakar in Abuja on September 4, 2026.

“On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” the police spokesman added.

Investigation Follows OPay Petition

The police said the alleged fraudulent notice was falsely presented as an official communication from OPay Nigeria Limited and claimed that the financial technology company would cease operations.

OPay had previously dismissed reports suggesting that it planned to shut down its Nigerian operations.

The latest arrest is part of the Nigeria Police Force’s efforts to investigate alleged cyber-related offences involving the creation and distribution of fraudulent digital content.

The police said further investigation into the matter is ongoing.