The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has uncovered a sophisticated syndicate allegedly deploying artificial intelligence tools to compromise the registration process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The Registrar of JAMB, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this on Saturday at a press conference in Abuja, revealing that several suspects linked to the network had been arrested and were currently under investigation.
Oloyede said the syndicate specialised in manipulating the registration system to favour candidates, particularly underage applicants, many of whom were allegedly pushed by their parents beyond their academic readiness.
According to him, about 38,000 underage candidates have registered for the 2026 UTME, with preliminary findings showing that no fewer than 100 of them were assisted by the criminal network during the registration process.
He said the board had recommended the affected candidates to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for immediate cancellation of their registration.
“Parents and their children are willing collaborators and cannot be said to be innocent,” Oloyede said. “We have made recommendations to the Minister of Education to cancel their registration; there are about 100 of them.”
The registrar disclosed that the malpractice cut across at least 25 states of the federation, underscoring the nationwide reach of the syndicate.
In a sweeping internal crackdown, Oloyede said three top officials of JAMB had been recommended for dismissal over alleged collaboration in sabotaging the board’s system.
Two other officials, alongside a staff member of Ahmadu Bello University, are currently facing criminal prosecution for activities said to be inimical to the integrity of the examination body.
He added that three proprietors of private schools had also been taken into custody for allegedly aiding and abetting examination malpractice.
Oloyede commended security agencies for their cooperation in tracking and apprehending members of the syndicate, assuring Nigerians that JAMB remained technologically ahead of those attempting to undermine its processes.
“We are ahead of them. The only problem we have is public opinion,” he said.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of examination bodies and renewed concerns over the integrity of public examinations, as authorities intensify efforts to curb digital-era examination fraud.
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