In a major breakthrough against cybercrime in Nigeria’s education sector, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force have arrested at least 20 suspects for allegedly hacking into the Computer-Based Test (CBT) systems used during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The coordinated operation, which took place in Abuja on Friday, targeted a sprawling syndicate believed to involve over 100 operatives. The suspects are accused of breaching secure servers belonging to JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO) in a sophisticated scheme aimed at manipulating exam scores.
According to security sources, the suspects confessed to deliberately sabotaging the CBT platforms to discredit JAMB and discourage the adoption of computer-based testing in future examinations, particularly those conducted by NECO and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Investigations revealed that candidates paid between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million to the syndicate to obtain artificially inflated scores through hacked exam systems. Some of the arrested individuals reportedly own private schools and tutorial centres, where they operate so-called “special centres” designed to guarantee high scores through illicit means.
“These are not just exam cheats; they are part of a larger cybercriminal network aimed at undermining the credibility of our national examination systems,” a DSS official disclosed. “Their goal is both financial and reputational sabotage.”
The bust comes amid public concerns over the integrity of the 2025 UTME results. However, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, dismissed speculations of ethnic or regional bias in result grading.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Prof. Oloyede reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to fairness and transparency, insisting that the board remains undeterred by attempts to manipulate its systems.
“We stand firmly by the integrity of our processes. Those who seek to discredit the CBT model through sabotage will be brought to justice,” he said.
The DSS has vowed to continue its crackdown on examination fraud syndicates as part of broader efforts to restore credibility and confidence in Nigeria’s educational institutions.
PIONEER NEWS 