The Department of State Services (DSS) and the
Nigerian Police Force have arrested 20 individuals suspected of hacking into
the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Computer-Based Test
(CBT) system. These arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into a
syndicate believed to comprise over 100 members who specialize in breaching the
computer systems of examination bodies such as the Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) .
Security sources revealed that the suspects confessed
to sabotaging the CBT system to discredit JAMB and deter students from using
CBT for future examinations conducted by NECO and the West African Examination
Council (WAEC). The hackers allegedly installed malicious software on
examination body hardware, enabling remote access to JAMB servers at targeted
CBT centers. This intrusion distorted the system, causing discrepancies between
candidates' answers and the questions, which contributed to the recorded mass
failure in the 2025 UTME .
The syndicate's operations were financially motivated,
with "special candidates" reportedly paying between ?700,000 and ?2
million to secure inflated scores. Preliminary investigations indicate that
several members of the syndicate own private schools and colleges, profiting
significantly from these illicit activities. Authorities are continuing their
investigation, and the arrested suspects are expected to face prosecution in
due course .
Comments:
Leave a Reply