The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has uncovered an examination malpractice syndicate during the conduct of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the College of Education, in Warri, Delta State southern Nigeria.
The operation followed intelligence-led investigations into attempts by criminal elements to compromise the integrity of the examination through technology-assisted fraud and unauthorised remote access to examination systems.
Preliminary investigations revealed that during the examination, unauthorised remote access was illegally gained into candidates’ computer systems while the exercise was ongoing. Acting on credible intelligence and digital forensic leads, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force carried out coordinated operations which led to the arrest of three suspects directly linked to the criminal activity. The suspects are currently in Police custody assisting ongoing investigations.
The Force Public Relations Officers, DCP Anthony Placid speaking during the parade of the four suspects at the Force headquarters in Abuja, disclosed that the investigations led to the arrest of four suspects who are cooperating with the investigations
“Following coordinated intelligence gathering and security operations, four suspects directly connected to the illegal operations have been arrested and are currently in police custody assisting the ongoing investigation.
“Further investigation also reveals the involvement of another principal suspect currently at large. Available intelligence indicates that the suspect remotely assessed and operated the candidate’s computer system from undisclosed locations during the examination,” he said.
He said Investigations have also uncovered the involvement of additional examination centers suspected of having engaged in similar illegal activities. Consequently, JAMB has taken administrative measures, including the withdrawal of results from affected centres pending the conclusion of investigations. Candidates affected by the development will be rescheduled for the mop-up examination in line with established procedures.
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Candidates directly affected by these activities will be rescheduled for the Mop-up examination in line with JAMB’s commitment to fairness and due process.
The Nigerian police force emphasises that this operation is not only aimed at arresting offenders after the commission of crimes but also at proactively detecting, dismantling, and preventing organised examination malpractice network through intelligence-led policing, digital forensics and strategic interagency collaboration.
The force reiterates that no form of cyber assisted examination fraud, digital manipulation or unauthorised system intrusion will escape detection and prosecution.
The Force warns all candidates, examination centre operators, and criminal collaborators to desist from engaging in any form of examination malpractice, cyber-assisted fraud, or unauthorized system intrusion.
The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to identifying, dismantling, and prosecuting criminal networks seeking to undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s educational system.
On their part the JAMB Public Communication Advisor Dr. Fabian Benjamin warned that JAMB has sophisticated technologies used in monitoring the examination for illegalities and no malpractice will go unnoticed.
“So the warning we are sending to Nigerians is that whatever you try, our eyes are there, we are watching right from the headquarters. We have close to 1,000 centers across the nation, and we are watching with 250 computers in each center. If you multiply that by 1,000, you will see how huge that number is.
“But we are watching all those systems from our headquarters If we tell you what these people did, I’m sure they too will be shocked that we were able to get them. I don’t think they believe that anybody will see what they were doing.”
He added that though results in some affected centres have been withdrawn, after investigations those found innocent will be cleared for a mop-up exam.
