The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force have arrested 20 suspects in connection with a sophisticated hacking operation that targeted the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, PLATFORM TIMES has learnt.
Security sources revealed that the suspects, currently in custody in Abuja, are part of a sprawling syndicate of over 100 individuals accused of infiltrating the computer-based testing (CBT) system of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The same network is also believed to have targeted the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Investigations show the group deployed illicit software to breach JAMB’s servers at designated CBT centres across the country.
The hackers allegedly manipulated scores in favour of “special candidates” who reportedly paid between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million to secure inflated results.
“The DSS has been on this trail for months. They tracked and arrested suspects across several states including Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Kano and Delta,” one source said.
“The hackers set up routers near CBT centres to override JAMB’s systems and remotely input false responses.”
According to confessions from some of the suspects, the hacking scheme was designed to undermine JAMB’s CBT integrity, and discourage its adoption by other examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO.
A source further disclosed that many of the arrested individuals operate private schools and “miracle centres” used to perpetuate examination malpractice, warning that full digitisation of national examinations could endanger their illegal revenue streams.
“The software distorted the CBT system, causing a mismatch between questions and answers inputted by candidates.
“This manipulation likely contributed to the mass failure recorded this year,” the official added.
The authorities, however, confirmed that no JAMB staff have been indicted so far, despite supervising the service providers at the compromised centres.
The DSS stated that investigations are ongoing, and more arrests may follow in the coming days.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned in court once preliminary inquiries are concluded.
Efforts to reach JAMB’s spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
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