The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force have jointly arrested 20 suspects for allegedly hacking into the computer servers of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to reports from AIT, the arrested individuals are part of a larger syndicate believed to comprise over 100 members who specialize in compromising the computer systems of national examination bodies including JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Security sources revealed that the suspects have confessed to deliberately sabotaging the Computer-Based Test (CBT) system with the intention of discrediting JAMB and discouraging students from using the CBT format for future examinations conducted by NECO and the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

"The syndicate would install an attacking software on the examination body hardware. The software, in turn, would remotely hack JAMB servers at any targeted CBT centre," a security source quoted one of the suspects as confessing.

Investigations have revealed that the primary motivation behind the hacking operation was financial gain. The syndicate allegedly manipulated the system to award high scores to candidates who paid between N700,000 and N2 million for the illegal service.

Preliminary findings also indicate that several members of the syndicate own private schools and colleges, using their "special centres" to generate substantial income through examination malpractice.

This development comes amid growing concerns about examination integrity in Nigeria's educational system, with JAMB's Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, reportedly considering resignation following errors in the 2025 UTME.

The authorities are expected to continue their investigation to apprehend other members of the syndicate as efforts intensify to protect the credibility of national examinations.