Police arrest woman over fake notice
Nigerian police have arrested a 27-year-old woman for creating and circulating a fake document claiming that fintech company OPay was shutting down. The arrest followed a formal petition from the company and the use of digital forensic tools to trace the source.
Why it matters
This case underscores the growing threat of digital misinformation and cybercrime targeting the financial sector in emerging markets.
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the creation and circulation of a forged document falsely suggesting that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations. The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday. Iniedu said the arrest followed a formal petition received from OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting an urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of those responsible for creating and circulating the fraudulent document. He said the petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja. According to him, the document was falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited.
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