Prophet Aliyu Barnabas of the Mercy and Grace Deliverance Ministry in Benue State has become a topic of discussion online after predicting that OPay, a widely used mobile banking platform, will “collapse” between December 2025 and January 2026.
In a viral video, he alleged that the company functions as a ritual organisation and cautioned users that their funds could disappear.
The prophecy has generated fear and debate on social media, with some Nigerians contemplating withdrawing their money, while others have dismissed the statement as unfounded.
A Nigerian cleric, Aliyu Barnabas of Mercy and Grace Deliverance Ministry in Ukum, Benue State, has stirred controversy after predicting the downfall of OPay, a well-known mobile banking platform.
In the video that circulated widely, the preacher claimed that OPay operates as a ritual network and warned that customers’ funds could vanish between December 2025 and January 2026.
The prophecy, which appeared online on October 27, has triggered panic among users, with some expressing anxiety about their savings. The prophet further alleged that customers would soon “wake up to find their money gone”, attributing his claim to spiritual revelations.
Following the release of the video, reactions across social media platforms have been divided. Some Nigerians said they were thinking of withdrawing their money, while others described the message as a baseless effort to spread fear.
One user wrote, “Opay needs to come and address this ASAP. Nigerians are religious people and they take messages from the church and the mosque very seriously.”
Financial technology experts have, however, condemned the prophecy, describing it as misleading and damaging to the growth of Nigeria’s digital banking sector.
Meanwhile, OPay, which is supervised by the Central Bank of Nigeria and whose deposits are insured by the NDIC up to ₦500,000 per user, has not made any official statement.
Financial analysts have advised users to stay calm and rely only on verified information rather than unsubstantiated online prophecies.
