Security operatives nab 20 suspects for allegedly hacking JAMB CBT servers

Twenty individuals have been arrested by security agencies for allegedly hacking into the computer-based test (CBT) servers used in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to a report by Channels Television, the arrests were carried out in Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The report claims the suspects are members of a cybercrime syndicate comprising over 100 individuals who specialize in infiltrating the servers of major examination bodies such as JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Citing security sources, Channels Television stated that “the suspects confessed to sabotaging the examination in a deliberate attempt to discredit JAMB and discourage the continued use of CBT by examination bodies like NECO and the West African Examination Council (WAEC).”

The arrested individuals allegedly charged so-called “special candidates” between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million to guarantee high scores in the UTME. Their operations were reportedly carried out from private schools and colleges serving as cover for the fraudulent activities.

This year’s UTME, which began nationwide in April, was fraught with complaints from candidates. Many reported being assigned to distant or inaccessible exam centres, preventing them from sitting for the test.

Following the release of results on May 9, it was revealed that more than 78 percent of candidates scored below 200 out of the maximum 400 points, triggering public outcry and raising questions about the integrity of the examination process.

During a press briefing on May 14, JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede admitted to “a technical error that compromised the integrity of the results in 157 centres nationwide.”

He revealed that 379,997 candidates were affected by the issue, which was traced to glitches caused by faulty server updates in JAMB’s Lagos and South-East zones. These glitches reportedly led to the failure to upload candidates’ responses during the first three days of the exam.

JAMB has since organized a re-sit for all candidates impacted by the server malfunctions.