Benue Prophet Claims OPay Operates as Ritual Scheme, Predicts Sudden Shutdown
A Nigerian cleric, Prophet Aliyu Barnabas of Mercy and Grace Deliverance Ministry in Ukum, Benue State, has sparked massive debate online after predicting the alleged collapse of OPay, one of Nigeria’s most popular mobile banking platforms.
In a viral video, Prophet Barnabas claimed that OPay operates under “spiritual manipulation” and warned users to withdraw their funds, saying the platform could crash between December 2025 and January 2026.
According to the cleric, customers might wake up one morning to find their money gone, insisting that his revelation was a divine warning.
The prophecy, which surfaced on October 27, has since gone viral across social media, generating widespread concern among Nigerians who use the platform for daily transactions.
While some expressed fear and panic, others dismissed the message as another attempt to stir confusion and distrust in the financial system.
Following the viral clip, social media platforms were flooded with comments from users reacting to the prophecy.
Some Nigerians admitted they were considering withdrawing their funds “just to be safe,” while others accused the prophet of trying to gain attention.
A user wrote:
“OPay needs to address this immediately. Nigerians take prophetic warnings seriously — silence can cause panic.”
However, fintech experts have urged customers to remain calm, calling the prophecy “unfounded and harmful.”
