The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force have arrested at least 20 individuals suspected of hacking the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The suspects are believed to be part of a larger syndicate of over 100 members who specialise in infiltrating the computer servers of major examination bodies, including JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
According to security sources, the suspects apprehended in Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Kano, Delta, and other states confessed to sabotaging the Computer Based Test (CBT) system. Their aim, investigators say, was to undermine JAMB’s credibility and discourage the continued use of CBT for WAEC and NECO examinations. The syndicate is reported to have exploited loopholes in the system to alter results and gain undue advantage.
Preliminary findings further revealed that some private school proprietors were involved, helping to manipulate scores for special candidates who paid between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million. Despite the breach, authorities confirmed that no evidence of complicity has been established against the seven JAMB officials who supervised the affected CBT centres.