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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has raised concerns over what it says is a growing network of examination fraud involving candidates, parents, and some school operators, with syndicates allegedly using artificial intelligence tools to interfere with the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, the Registrar of the Board, Ishaq Oloyede, said the examination body is currently battling coordinated digital attempts aimed at manipulating the system through impersonation and other forms of online deception.
“The registrations of candidates involved may be cancelled. Ignorance will no longer be accepted as a defence,” Oloyede said.
According to him, the suspects allegedly deployed AI technology to create fake online identities and circulate altered photographs, including images falsely showing individuals in the company of top education officials, in order to gain the trust of unsuspecting candidates.
The Registrar disclosed that more than 100 candidates are believed to have paid for illegal assistance, with 83 transactions already traced by investigators.
He added that the activities were detected in 25 states, suggesting the network operates across the country rather than in a single region.
Providing details, Oloyede said 15 candidates in Lagos State registered under questionable circumstances, although only one is from the state. In Oyo State, four candidates registered there, while five indigenes were found to have registered outside the state.
Further investigations, he said, uncovered the alleged involvement of some tutorial and remedial centre operators who moved candidates across state lines to aid the malpractice; three school proprietors are currently in custody as security agencies continue their probe.
Oloyede also warned that “membership in WhatsApp groups offering so-called ‘expo’ services would now be treated as criminal participation.”
JAMB said it has recommended the cancellation of registrations of candidates who paid for illegal support, reiterating its commitment to protecting the credibility of the UTME through strict enforcement and collaboration with security authorities.
