OPay Engages Nigerian Police to Probe Shutdown Rumors

Fintech firm OPay Digital Services Limited has engaged the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate viral social media reports falsely claiming the company would shut down its Nigerian operations on September 1, 2026. The misinformation, which appeared on Sunday, urged customers to withdraw or transfer their funds to avoid inconvenience.

OPay dismissed the claims as false and misleading, noting that the fabricated notices featured incorrect logos, spelling, and templates. The company issued a disclaimer and an email to users on September 1 confirming that its services remain fully operational. This incident follows a pattern of misinformation targeting Nigerian financial institutions, including 2024 reports that OPay was leaving the market and impersonation attempts against First Bank and GTBank.

Chief Legal Counsel Akinfolabi Rokosu threatened legal action against those creating and spreading the claims. The company already secured a retraction and apology from X user Cute Hafserh, who deleted the original post after OPay described the publication as libellous and defamatory. OPay executives, including Chief Operating Officer Dotun Adekunle, confirmed the company has no intention of exiting Nigeria and urged customers to verify all alerts through official channels.