Police Arrest X User Over False OPay Shutdown Alert That Garnered 572,000 Views

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested an X user accused of circulating a false notice claiming that digital payment platform OPay was about to shut down and urging customers to withdraw their money.

The suspect, identified as Hafsat Abubakar, was arrested on September 4 by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), according to a statement issued by police spokesperson Ani Iniedu on Thursday.

The disputed message claimed OPay would shut down from September 1 and indefinitely suspend transaction processing. It urged customers to withdraw their funds immediately to avoid possible inconvenience.

OPay rejected the claim as false and had threatened legal action against the person responsible for the publication. The message subsequently gained significant attention across social media, raising concerns over the potential impact of false information involving a major financial platform.

Police said the NPF-NCCC launched a digital forensic investigation and online tracing operation after the publication emerged. Investigators reportedly traced the original post to an X account identified as @haifah_er_abba, which police linked to Abubakar.

According to the police, the suspect later shared the notice through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSERH, tagging social media influencers and adding the caption, “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW.” Investigators said the post attracted approximately 572,000 views within minutes.

During the investigation, police said three Apple mobile phones were recovered from Abubakar as exhibits. The suspect reportedly told investigators that she obtained the alleged shutdown notice from a WhatsApp status.

The police said the investigation is continuing to determine how the false notice was created and distributed and whether other individuals were involved. Iniedu added that Abubakar and anyone else found culpable would be charged in court after the investigation is completed.

The case highlights the speed at which unverified financial claims can spread online and potentially trigger panic among customers. For users of digital financial services, false shutdown or account-related alerts can have immediate consequences if people act before verifying information through official channels.