
A viral video prophecy by Snr Prophet Aliyu Barnabas, founder of Mercy and Grace Deliverance Ministry, Ukum, Benue State, has caused panic among Nigerians after he declared that the popular fintech app, Opay, will crash by January 2026.

According to the prophet, Opay is “demonic and ritualistic”, and its downfall will begin in December 2025 before collapsing completely next year. The statement has sparked widespread debate on social media, with millions of Opay users reacting differently some in fear, others dismissing the prophecy as baseless.

Prophet Barnabas claimed that starting from December 2025, Opay will begin to face internal problems.
He said:
“From this December, Opay will start having issues. By January, the bank will lose the battle and begin asking users to verify their details again before accessing their money. Later in the year, it will close down completely.”
He insisted that Opay is “a demonic platform” and that its collapse will prove he is “a true man of power.”
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Opay is trending because a Benue Prophet, Aliyu Barnabas predicted that the fintech app will crash, latest by January 2026.
According to Snr Prophet Barnabas of Mercy and Grace Deliverance Ministry, Ukum, Benue — Opay is demonic, a ritual, and from this December, they will have… pic.twitter.com/Z5hORMPR8O
— Trending Explained (@TrendingEx) October 27, 2025

The prophecy immediately divided public opinion. While some Nigerians expressed fear and considered withdrawing their funds, others mocked the prophecy, arguing that Opay is not a Ponzi scheme and cannot crash like failed investment platforms such as MMM, Racksterli, or CBEX.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote:
“Opay is licensed by the CBN and insured by NDIC. It’s not a spiritual matter. These pastors should stop spreading fear.”
Another user commented:
“If Opay crashes, Nigeria’s economy will shake. But I still believe in prophecy — let’s wait and see.”
BELOW ARE SOME TWEETS
Opay is trending because a Benue Prophet, Aliyu Barnabas predicted that the fintech app will crash, latest by January 2026.
According to Snr Prophet Barnabas of Mercy and Grace Deliverance Ministry, Ukum, Benue — Opay is demonic, a ritual, and from this December, they will have… pic.twitter.com/Z5hORMPR8O
— Trending Explained (@TrendingEx) October 27, 2025
Founded in 2018, Opay is one of Nigeria’s most successful fintech apps, boasting over 60 million active users. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
NDIC protects mobile money users up to ₦5 million per subscriber.
This means if an institution like Opay ever fails, customers could recover part — but not all — of their funds.
However, the NDIC only pays after official liquidation and regulatory processes, which can take time.
So while Opay is insured, the coverage is not unlimited. Large deposits might not be fully refunded in the event of a total collapse — though such a scenario remains highly unlikely.
Financial experts have dismissed the prophecy, saying there is no evidence to support claims that Opay will “crash.”
The fintech currently handles billions of naira in daily transactions and continues to expand its services, including bill payments, transfers, and POS systems across Nigeria.
According to analysts:
“Opay is backed by strong investors and operates under strict CBN supervision. For it to crash suddenly would require a total failure of Nigeria’s banking infrastructure — which is unrealistic.”
In short, Opay is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and its stability is tied to real financial systems — not spiritual speculation.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first prophecy about Opay.
In late 2023, another pastor claimed Opay would collapse “before Easter 2024.” It didn’t.
In February 2024, a different prophet said God revealed Opay would not crash.
And just two weeks ago, a viral post falsely claimed “Opay has crashed,” which turned out to be a hoax.
These repeating prophecies and rumors reflect a mix of fear, faith, and misinformation that often surrounds fast-growing tech companies in Nigeria.

The short answer is no not yet.
While it’s wise to stay cautious, there’s no evidence that Opay faces any real financial crisis.
However, users should still:
Avoid panic withdrawals — they can create unnecessary stress on the system.
Complete all KYC verifications to stay NDIC-covered.
Keep moderate balances in digital wallets and diversify funds if possible.
Stay informed through official CBN and NDIC announcements.
Prophecies often spark emotional reactions, especially when they involve money or faith. But for now, Opay remains stable, active, and growing.
The prediction that it will crash by January 2026 might make headlines — but it’s not backed by facts, data, or regulatory red flags.