DSS, Police Arrest 20 Over Alleged UTME Results Hacking Syndicate

The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force have arrested 20 suspects in Abuja for allegedly hacking into the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.

According to reports, the suspects are part of a syndicate with over 100 members that infiltrates the servers of examination bodies like the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). The group reportedly used advanced hacking tools, including malicious software and unauthorized routers placed near Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers, to override JAMB’s systems.

The scheme enabled them to manipulate scores for candidates who paid between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million, contributing to widespread discrepancies between candidates’ answers and actual exam questions—one of the causes cited for the high failure rate in the 2025 UTME.

Investigators also found that many of those involved own private schools and operate “special centers,” using them as a cover to conduct exam fraud. Security officials say these actors have long resisted the full adoption of CBT for WAEC and NECO exams, fearing it would end their illegal operations.

The DSS revealed it had been quietly tracking the group before making the arrests. Further investigations and additional arrests are ongoing.