Security agents have detained no fewer than 20 individuals in Abuja in connection with the large-scale breach of the 2025 computer-based examination system of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The arrests were carried out by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force.
The apprehended suspects are reportedly members of a cybercriminal syndicate comprising more than 100 individuals who are notorious for targeting the digital infrastructure of key examination bodies, including JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
According to security insiders, the culprits admitted to deliberately compromising JAMB's Computer-Based Test (CBT) platform in a bid to damage the board’s credibility and create doubt around the effectiveness of CBTs in future WAEC and NECO assessments.
One of the suspects allegedly revealed that the group developed and deployed malicious software designed to infiltrate and take control of JAMB’s servers from remote locations during examinations.
The syndicate’s members hail from various parts of the country, including Lagos, Edo, Kano, Anambra, and Delta states. Authorities have chosen not to release their names ahead of formal court proceedings.
A source said the DSS had been secretly tracking the syndicate's operations before making the arrests.
The hackers reportedly installed specialized routers near designated CBT centres, enabling them to bypass JAMB’s security and transmit exam answers to paid candidates.
The rogue software tampered with the system, misaligning candidates’ answers with corresponding questions, an act believed to have caused widespread failures in the test.
Investigations reveal that these services came at a premium, with candidates paying between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million for guaranteed high scores.
Many members of the hacking network allegedly run private schools and special centres, where they make substantial profits through these fraudulent schemes.
The criminal group reportedly opposes the adoption of CBT models for WAEC and NECO exams, fearing it would dismantle their illegal operations.
As of last night, officials confirmed that none of the JAMB staff overseeing service providers at affected centres have been implicated in the scheme.
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