Abuja, Nigeria — In a coordinated crackdown on digital exam fraud, security operatives have apprehended 20 suspects for allegedly breaching the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Computer-Based Test (CBT) system.
This was confirmed by sources within the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), with all suspects now in custody in Abuja.
The suspects are said to be part of a vast cybercrime ring comprising over 100 operatives. According to preliminary findings, the network specializes in compromising the digital infrastructure of national examination bodies such as JAMB and NECO.
Investigators discovered that the syndicate had embedded harmful software into devices used at designated CBT centres, enabling remote access to JAMB servers during exam sessions.
A source close to the probe revealed that the hackers planted unauthorized routers close to the CBT centres. These devices reportedly hijacked the official exam system, allowing the syndicate to upload pre-programmed answers to candidates who had paid premium fees for the illegal service.
“The plan was to discredit the CBT model and hinder its extension to other major exams like WAEC and NECO,” the source disclosed.
Authorities found that desperate candidates paid between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million to manipulate their scores. The tampering, however, created irregularities between the test questions and submitted answers, leading to increased failure rates and undermining the integrity of the national examination process.
Security reports further indicate that many suspects run private schools and illegal tutorial centres known as “special centres,” which allegedly rake in millions by facilitating exam malpractice.
The DSS, after months of surveillance, launched the operation leading to arrests in multiple states including Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Kano, and Delta. Officials describe the scheme as a deliberate and technologically advanced attempt to erode Nigeria’s education standards.
As of the latest updates, there is no conclusive evidence implicating the seven JAMB officials assigned to oversee the compromised centres. Their roles remain under review.
Authorities have assured the public that the investigation will be exhaustive, and all individuals found culpable will be brought to justice.
By Taiwo Olatinwo | May 24, 2025
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