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The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested an X user, Hafsat Abubakar, over a social media publication urging customers of digital financial services platform OPay to withdraw their funds.
Abubakar was arrested on September 4 following an investigation into a widely circulated notice claiming that OPay would stop operations on September 1 and indefinitely suspend transaction processing.
The publication, which gained significant attention online, advised customers to withdraw their money immediately to avoid potential difficulties accessing their funds.
However, OPay dismissed the notice as false and threatened legal action against the person responsible for circulating it.
Following the spread of the publication, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre commenced a digital forensic investigation and online tracing exercise to establish its source and determine how it was disseminated across social media.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Force spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, said the investigation traced the publication to an X account linked to Abubakar.
The police identified the account as @haifah_er_abba and said further investigation showed that the suspect allegedly shared the publication through another X account, @CUTE_HAFSER.
According to the statement, Abubakar also tagged several social media influencers while sharing the post in an attempt to increase its reach.
The post reportedly carried the caption, “REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW,” a message that could encourage customers to take immediate action based on the information contained in the publication.
The police said the suspect claimed during preliminary investigation that she obtained the notice from a WhatsApp status before sharing it on X.
Despite the source she reportedly gave investigators, the publication had already gained substantial attention online by the time authorities began tracing its origin.
The police said the notice recorded approximately 572,000 views within minutes of being posted, demonstrating how quickly information can spread across social media platforms.
The rapid circulation of the claim prompted concerns about its potential impact on OPay customers, particularly those who might have acted on the message by withdrawing or attempting to move their funds.
Iniedu said three Apple mobile phones were recovered from Abubakar as exhibits as investigators continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the publication.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect published the notice on her X handle and subsequently shared it through another X handle, @CUTE_HAFSER, where she tagged social media influencers and accompanied the post with the caption, ‘REMOVE YOUR MONEY NOW,’” the statement said.
The police said the investigation is not limited to determining whether Abubakar created the false notice.
Authorities are also working to establish how the publication originated, the circumstances surrounding its creation and whether other individuals were involved in producing or spreading it.
The NPF-NCCC said investigators would continue examining available digital evidence and tracing the circulation of the notice to identify anyone else who may have played a role.
The arrest comes amid increasing concerns over the speed at which unverified information can spread through social media and potentially influence the actions of large numbers of people.
Financial-related claims can be particularly sensitive because customers may make immediate decisions about their money based on information shared online.
The police therefore warned that individuals involved in creating or circulating false information could face legal consequences where investigations establish culpability.
Iniedu said Abubakar would face prosecution if found culpable, alongside any other persons identified as having participated in the creation or dissemination of the publication.
He added that the suspect and others who may be found responsible would be charged to court after the investigation is concluded.
For now, the police investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the false OPay shutdown notice and determine whether additional individuals were involved.
#NigeriaPoliceForce
#OPay
#Cybercrime
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