Anambra and Lagos States recorded the highest number of arrests for examination misconduct during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with over 80 candidates now facing police interrogation.
According to reports from Punch Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) revealed a troubling surge in identity fraud, impersonation, and illegal use of electronic devices during the registration and exam periods. JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede noted that some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres were complicit in the offenses, helping candidates manipulate biometric data during registration.
The figures released showed:
- Anambra: 14 suspects (13 for impersonation, 1 for photo mismatch)
- Lagos: 9 suspects (impersonation, spying, illegal phone use)
- Delta: 8 suspects (impersonation)
- Kano: 7 suspects (impersonation, phone possession)
- Kaduna, Rivers, Ebonyi, Enugu: 5–6 suspects each
One case that drew attention involved a blind candidate who paid another visually impaired undergraduate to sit the UTME in his place. The impersonator was arrested and is currently under investigation.
Oloyede explained: “The integrity of the exam is under constant attack, but we remain committed to exposing fraud and holding offenders accountable.”
Further findings showed over 1.5 million out of 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 in the exam, which is graded over 400. While multiple factors may be responsible, JAMB has partially attributed the low scores to inadequate teaching methods in secondary schools.
JAMB also sanctioned 132 CBT centres for data mismatches and announced plans to collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to prevent biometric fraud. Measures such as issuing customized SIM cards to candidates are also in motion to minimize identity manipulation.
The board’s ongoing efforts are aimed at reinforcing credibility and transparency in future examinations.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
