Over 20 Suspects Arrested in Massive UTME 2025 Exam Hacking Scandal Involving JAMB and NECO Servers
In a shocking development that has shaken Nigeria’s education sector, at least 20 suspects have been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force for allegedly hacking the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) computer-based test (CBT) system.
The suspects, many of whom are believed to be part of a larger criminal syndicate of over 100 members, reportedly engaged in illegally accessing and manipulating the computer servers of major examination bodies such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
This development raises serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s public examinations, especially as the nation continues to push for the digitization of key educational processes through CBT systems.
Syndicate Allegedly Aimed to Discredit CBT and JAMB
According to credible security sources, the arrested individuals have confessed to actively working to sabotage the UTME CBT system. Their goal, as they reportedly admitted during interrogation, was not only to make illegal money but to discredit JAMB’s credibility and discourage students from trusting computer-based examinations for future assessments conducted by NECO and the West African Examinations 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,” the source quoted one of the suspects as confessing.
This level of cyber intrusion not only undermines the credibility of the exam results but also poses a major threat to Nigeria’s education system, which is increasingly reliant on digital tools.
High-Tech Cheating for High Fees: N700,000 to N2 Million per Candidate
The primary motivation for these cybercriminals, according to findings from the preliminary investigation, was financial gain. The suspects were said to have offered “special candidate” services for students and parents who were willing to pay for guaranteed high scores in the UTME.
Investigators revealed that the syndicate charged between N700,000 and N2 million per candidate to manipulate results in their favour. These candidates were likely enrolled in so-called “special centres” – privately owned examination centres that often promise students an easy way to pass major examinations without proper preparation.
This is particularly troubling, as it suggests that wealthy parents and desperate students may have willingly participated in the cheating scheme, further fueling a culture of exam malpractice that threatens educational fairness and meritocracy in Nigeria.
Private School Owners Allegedly Involved
Adding another layer of scandal to the situation, some of the suspects were found to be owners of private schools and colleges. These institutions allegedly operate as fronts for conducting fraudulent examination activities. Many are believed to have used their “special centres” to lure candidates seeking to gain admission into tertiary institutions through dishonest means.
The DSS and police investigations show that these school owners made huge profits by offering “guaranteed success” in exams like JAMB’s UTME. These profits were often far greater than what they earned through legitimate tuition and academic services.
This disturbing trend has led stakeholders to question how deeply rooted this corruption is within the Nigerian education system and whether more school owners and educators may be secretly profiting from similar schemes.
How the JAMB and NECO Servers Were Hacked
The hacking method employed by the syndicate was technologically sophisticated. The suspects allegedly installed specialized software on the computer systems at CBT centres, which allowed them to remotely access JAMB’s server infrastructure during examinations.
Once inside the server, the software was reportedly used to either upload pre-programmed answers or alter the scores of candidates in real time. This process allowed them to manipulate results without detection—at least initially.
“The syndicate would install an attacking software on the examination body hardware,” the security source stated. “The software, in turn, would remotely hack JAMB servers at any targeted CBT centre.”
The ability to remotely manipulate exam servers points to a high degree of technical knowledge among the suspects. It also suggests that internal collusion may have occurred, possibly involving staff or contractors working within examination centres.
What This Means for Nigerian Students and Education Policy
This large-scale exam malpractice scandal has ignited nationwide debate over the reliability of the CBT system, the security protocols of major examination bodies, and the increasing role of cybercrime in education.
It also raises important questions:
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Can CBT examinations in Nigeria be trusted?
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Are students who legitimately work hard being unfairly disadvantaged?
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What policies are in place to prevent such attacks in the future?
If left unchecked, these kinds of security breaches may erode public confidence in Nigeria’s examination systems and make it harder for deserving students to be rewarded based on merit.
JAMB and Security Agencies Respond
In response to the arrests, both the DSS and Nigerian Police Force have vowed to continue their investigation and ensure that all members of the syndicate are brought to justice. Authorities are also collaborating with JAMB and NECO to review and tighten cybersecurity measures across all CBT centres in the country.
Meanwhile, JAMB officials have reiterated their commitment to upholding the integrity of the UTME process. They also warned parents and students to avoid patronizing special centres or engaging in any form of exam malpractice.
Education stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, have also called for a national crackdown on illegal “special centres” and the immediate auditing of private schools suspected to be involved in such crimes.
What Can Be Done: Solutions and Recommendations
To prevent future occurrences of this nature, experts have recommended the following actions:
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Stricter monitoring and accreditation of CBT centres by JAMB and NECO.
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Deployment of cybersecurity experts at all examination bodies.
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Introduction of biometric tracking and real-time surveillance during examinations.
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Public awareness campaigns to educate students and parents on the dangers of exam fraud.
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Harsh penalties for school owners and candidates found guilty of participating in such fraudulent schemes.
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Technological audits of all CBT systems before and after every major examination.
By taking these steps, Nigeria can rebuild trust in its educational systems and ensure that students are judged fairly based on academic merit.
Final Thoughts: A Wake-Up Call for the Nigerian Education Sector
The arrest of over 20 suspects in this massive UTME 2025 CBT hacking scandal is not just a crime story—it is a wake-up call. The incident exposes deep vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s examination systems and highlights the urgent need for reform.
As the investigation continues, it is essential for the government, examination bodies, schools, parents, and students to work together in restoring integrity, fairness, and security to the country’s education sector.
The future of millions of Nigerian students depends on it.
