A wave of anxiety has swept across social media after a Benue-based prophet, Aliyu Barnabas of Mercy and Grace Deliverance Ministry, declared that the popular mobile banking platform OPay would collapse between December 2025 and January 2026. In a viral video, the cleric described the fintech giant as a “ritual scheme,” warning users that their funds might mysteriously vanish during the period.
The prophecy, shared widely on October 27, has left many Nigerians unsettled, especially as millions rely on OPay for daily financial transactions. In the video, Prophet Barnabas claimed that the collapse would be spiritual rather than technical, insisting that users would “wake up one morning to find their money gone.” His message quickly triggered mixed emotions online — from fear and disbelief to outright ridicule.
While some users took the prophecy seriously and hinted at withdrawing their funds, others accused the preacher of spreading panic for attention. One user commented, “Nigerians are very religious, so messages like this can cause chaos if OPay doesn’t speak up fast.” Several called on the company to issue an official statement to prevent mass withdrawals and restore public trust.
Meanwhile, fintech experts and industry analysts have condemned the prophecy as baseless and damaging to Nigeria’s growing digital banking ecosystem. They warned that spreading unverified religious claims could undermine confidence in financial technology, which has played a major role in driving financial inclusion nationwide.
So far, OPay has remained silent, but regulatory facts stand firm — the company is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its users’ deposits are insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) up to ₦500,000. Experts emphasize that such safeguards make a sudden collapse nearly impossible, urging Nigerians to depend on verified information rather than viral prophecies.
As the debate continues, the viral clip has reignited a larger conversation about the influence of religion on financial decisions in Nigeria. For many, it’s a reminder that faith and finance often intersect in unpredictable ways — and sometimes, fear can spread faster than facts.
