The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled an examination malpractice syndicate during the 2026 UTME, arresting suspects in Delta State.
The Force disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, DCP Anthony Placid, in Abuja on May 8, 2026.
The operation was carried out with JAMB after intelligence linked the suspects to technology-driven fraud at a CBT centre in Warri, where they allegedly used remote digital tools to compromise the exam.
The arrests come amid tighter scrutiny of CBT centres nationwide, with investigations extending to other suspected locations.
The Nigeria Police Force says the arrested suspects allegedly deployed sophisticated technology to interfere with candidates’ examination systems remotely during the UTME.
The Force added that the operation was intelligence-led and supported by digital forensic analysis, which helped trace and apprehend those involved in the malpractice network.
Authorities also confirmed that additional CBT centres are currently under investigation, while JAMB has withdrawn results linked to the affected centres pending further review.
The 2026 UTME, conducted by JAMB, ran from April 16 to April 25, 2026, across more than 1,000 CBT centres nationwide. The examination remains one of the largest tertiary admission assessments in Africa, attracting millions of candidates annually.
Earlier in the cycle, JAMB reported strong participation levels within the first phase of result releases, reflecting high turnout and smooth CBT operations across many centres.
The latest development highlights ongoing concerns around technology-enabled examination fraud within Nigeria’s education assessment system.
Security agencies further warned that both CBT operators and external collaborators found culpable will face prosecution as investigations continue across multiple locations.
The crackdown comes as JAMB intensifies reforms aimed at protecting the credibility of the UTME and other national examinations. The Board has also recently expanded access to registration infrastructure to ease candidate participation.
Authorities have reiterated that examination integrity remains a top priority, with enhanced monitoring across CBT centres.