Police Arrest Woman Over Fake OPay Shutdown Notice, Users Rush to Withdraw or Deactivate Accounts
A 27-year-old woman is in police custody over an alleged fake document that suggested that OPay Nigeria Limited was about to shut down.
The notice was circulating rapidly through WhatsApp chats, Telegram channels and X timelines on Thursday evening after the initial reports, prompting users to rush to cash out or deactivate their accounts.
Sources within the investigation said that the document, which used letterheads and language to mimic corporate communication, was picked up by OPay’s internal monitoring team within hours and led to a police petition.
Investigators traced the file’s origin to a social media handle which pointed to Abubakar. She was detained in a low-key operation and is aiding their inquiries.
Company executives who spoke privately stressed that no shutdown is planned and that all operations are running smoothly.
The rapid spread of the notice is a reminder of how fast financial misinformation can travel on private messaging apps before catching on with mainstream media. Banks and compliance officers have been circulating internal advisories to remind employees to seek verification from official channels for any suspicious corporate announcements.
Users who took action on the notice are being advised to disregard any other messages that require them to confirm details on any financial activity.
The case is expected to be charged with cybercrime and public mischief once statements have been taken. To many ordinary account holders, the episode was a sobering reminder that screenshots and messages need to be subject to additional caution when dealing with money.
The arrest now turns the spotlight to on how the alleged document was circulated and users are again being reminded to confirm any sensitive financial messages with verifiable sources before taking any action.
