ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian security operatives have arrested 20 individuals allegedly involved in a sophisticated syndicate accused of hacking the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) computer systems, further deepening the crisis facing the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The suspects were apprehended in Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), according to a report by Channels Television.
The arrests come amid mounting public scrutiny over the conduct of this year’s UTME, which has been marred by widespread complaints and technical irregularities.
Security sources revealed that the suspects are part of a larger network, reportedly comprising over 100 individuals, that specialises in infiltrating the computer servers of examination bodies including JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Preliminary investigations indicate that the syndicate charged students between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million to manipulate scores in their favour.
These operations were reportedly run out of private schools and colleges, which served as cover for illegal access to examination systems.
The alleged hackers have reportedly confessed to deliberately undermining the credibility of JAMB’s computer-based test (CBT) model, aiming to discourage its continued use by NECO and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The arrests come in the wake of a controversial UTME season that began in April.
Complaints from candidates included issues such as inaccessible exam centres and delayed testing.
Following the release of results on Friday, May 9, 2025, public discontent grew when it was revealed that over 78 percent of candidates scored below 200 out of a maximum of 400 marks.
At a press conference on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede acknowledged that technical failures affected the results of nearly 380,000 candidates across 157 centres.
According to Oloyede, server disruptions in Lagos and parts of the South-East led to data loss and the failure to properly upload candidates’ answers.
“To uphold the integrity of the examination, the Board conducted a re-sit for the affected candidates,” he said, while also apologising for the “human and technical shortcomings.”
The arrests and subsequent revelations are expected to fuel further debate about the robustness of JAMB’s CBT infrastructure, which has been at the centre of Nigeria’s standardised admissions testing since 2013.
As the investigation widens, attention will turn to how JAMB and relevant authorities intend to restore public trust in the examination process and prevent future compromises.
Neither the DSS nor the NPF has issued a formal statement as of the time of filing this report.
