Unexpected OPay Withdrawals: What Really Happened in December 2025—and What You Should Know

In early December 2025, a quiet panic began to spread across Nigeria’s digital space. People woke up to sudden debit alerts from their OPay accounts. Some noticed ₦20,000 missing. Others reported different amounts. The most frightening part? Many claimed they did not authorize any transaction.

Almost immediately, rumors took over. Some blamed OPay directly. Others pointed fingers at NIRSAL, recalling the COVID-19 loan disbursements from 2020. A few believed their ATM cards had been cloned. Fear moved faster than facts.

But after reviewing multiple reports, transaction records, and direct evidence shared by affected users, one clear pattern has emerged—and it changes the entire story.

What the Evidence Actually Shows

Several affected users shared their transaction receipts, and a common name kept appearing:

ILOTBET

The debits were not random system errors. They were successful payments processed through OPay to an online betting platform identified as ILOTBET. In many cases, the transfers were marked clearly as completed transactions—not failed debits, not pending glitches, not internal bank deductions.

This means one thing:
These withdrawals were linked to betting transactions, not OPay system theft and not NIRSAL deductions.

The shocking truth is that in many of these cases, the account owners either:

• Had once used their OPay details on ILOTBET and forgotten, or
• Had their phone, SIM, or account access compromised without realizing it.

Why People Thought It Was OPay or NIRSAL

The confusion is understandable.

For OPay:
When money disappears without your knowledge, the first instinct is to blame the bank. Digital wallets feel invisible, so when something goes wrong, it feels like the company itself “took” the money.

For NIRSAL:
Some Nigerians still associate unexplained debits with past government interventions, especially the COVID-19 loan era. So when unexpected deductions happen, old fears resurface.

But in this case, transaction descriptions, timestamps, and payment paths all point away from OPay and NIRSAL—and directly to ILOTBET.

Trending: OPay Speaks on Rumours About Missing Customer Money

The Hidden Risk Many People Ignore

Here is the uncomfortable truth many don’t like to hear:

Most unauthorized transactions today are not caused by banks.
They are caused by:

• Shared OTP codes
• Clicking fake links
• Downloading fake apps
• Using weak PINs
• Letting friends “help” with transactions
• Phone theft without immediate account blocking

Once someone gains access to your phone or SIM, OPay becomes as easy to operate as your own hand.

And betting platforms process payments instantly. No delay. No second confirmation in many cases.

What People Are Searching for Right Now

“Is OPay stealing money?”
No verified evidence shows OPay secretly withdrawing funds from users.

“Is NIRSAL deducting money again?”
No. NIRSAL is not connected to these December 2025 withdrawals.

“What is ILOTBET on my transaction?”
It is an online betting platform. The deduction means your account was used to place a bet or fund a betting wallet.

“Can I get my money back?”
Possibly—only if you act immediately. Once betting transactions settle, recovery becomes very difficult.

A Journalist’s Perspective

After reviewing multiple transaction slips, speaking with users, and comparing timestamps, one conclusion stands firm:
This is a digital security problem, not a banking conspiracy.

Banks execute instructions. Hackers, social engineers, and careless access give those instructions.

The silence of certainty often feels scarier than the noise of rumors—but truth protects better than panic.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you notice any strange debit:

• Change your OPay PIN immediately
• Block your SIM if your phone is missing
• Contact OPay support with your session ID
• Avoid betting sites you don’t fully control
• Never share OTPs with anyone—no matter the excuse

One Small Action That Can Save You:
Turn on transaction notifications for every single activity on your account. Silence is where losses grow.

This December incident has taught us something important:
In today’s Nigeria, digital money is powerful—but so is digital risk. And the line between the two is often just one careless click.

Allmedia24.com will continue to follow this story as more verified reports come in.