A major examination fraud ring has been uncovered in Abuja, where authorities have arrested 20 suspects linked to the manipulation of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results through sophisticated hacking schemes.
The suspects, apprehended by a joint operation of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force, are believed to be part of a larger network allegedly targeting examination servers across multiple education bodies. Security sources say the ring, possibly over 100 members strong, has been exploiting vulnerabilities in computer-based testing (CBT) systems to alter scores for paying candidates.
Findings indicate that the suspects ran “special centres” that promised unusually high scores in exchange for payments ranging between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million. Several members of the syndicate reportedly operate private schools, positioning them to orchestrate the fraudulent activities under the guise of legitimate academic institutions.
Investigators revealed that the group aimed to undermine the credibility of computer-based examinations, particularly those conducted by JAMB, NECO, and WAEC, by artificially inflating scores and creating technical disruptions that could discredit the system.
The arrests come on the heels of growing scrutiny over the integrity of this year’s UTME results. Over 78 percent of candidates reportedly scored below average, sparking concerns among stakeholders. JAMB had earlier acknowledged technical hitches during the first three days of the exam, which affected nearly 380,000 candidates across 157 centres, especially in Lagos and the South-East.
A resit was scheduled from May 16 to address the fallout, as the examination body continues efforts to restore trust in the CBT process.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing and more arrests are expected as they close in on the full extent of the operation.
