Abuja, Nigeria — Data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) show say Anambra and Lagos states get the majority among 80 suspects de interrogated by police for their involvement in 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) malpractices.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, talk am for press briefing at JAMB headquarters on Friday. Him reveal say new methods of exam fraud don show up during registration and examination processes. Prof. Oloyede explain say dem find identity and biometric frauds wey involve candidates’ thumbprints and those of impersonators at registration points, with help from some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, double registration, and candidates wey try to use others to sit for the exam.
According to the data, Anambra state lead with 14 suspects wey dem arrest for 13 cases of impersonation and one picture mismatch. Lagos state follow with nine suspects for cases of impersonation, spying, and possession of mobile phones. Other states with notable arrests include Delta with eight suspects, Kano with seven suspects, and Kaduna with six suspects.
Reports show say Rivers state get six suspects for impersonation and possession of mobile phones and calculators, while Ebonyi and Enugu states each had five suspects for impersonation.
Wetin shock many na wetin Oloyede talk about one blind candidate wey hire another blind person as his impersonator to take the 2025 UTME for him. Oloyede mention say the impersonator self na undergraduate.
The 2025 UTME results wey JAMB officially release on Friday show say out of the 1.9 million candidates wey sit for the exam, over 1.5 million score below 200, wey be the average benchmark for the exam.
The UTME tests candidates across four core subjects. English language dey mandatory while candidates fit choose three other subjects wey relate to wetin dem wan study.
Oloyede explain say 39,834 candidates’ results dey withheld because of suspected malpractices. Him mention that dem get 1,426 candidates results wey still dey under scrutiny, but this number down from last year wey dem get 123 results withheld. He add say over 2,157 candidates experience fingerprint rejections during registration. This figure don shoot over the normal margin.
Oloyede also reveal say 244 candidates dey involved for “WhatsApp runs” and dem don withhold their results to serve as deterrent. He confirm that some CBT centres work with syndicates to register candidates with multiple fingerprints wey affect about 3,656 candidates whose results dey withheld due to “extraneous fingerprints.”
Two CBT centres, Tigh Technologies Limited and Sagson International School in Abuja, plus Wudil Computer Information Technology in Kano, and Penta M & Center 2 in Sokoto, na dem wey dey face sanctions for collusion.
Despite all the wahala, Oloyede remain positive, describe this year’s results as one of the most successful in recent times. Him promise say JAMB go continue to innovate to keep exam credibility intact.
He conclude by telling candidates how to check their UTME results: dem go text ‘UTMERESULT’ to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number dem use for registration.
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