Nigeria’s examination body, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has uncovered a new form of exam malpractice involving artificial intelligence, leading to the arrest of two candidates and a parent.
The arrests were announced as the board began releasing results for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with over 600,000 candidates already able to access their scores.
According to JAMB, the suspects allegedly altered official result notifications sent via SMS, using digital tools to inflate scores and mislead others, including parents and guardians.
Investigators revealed that the manipulation targeted messages sent from JAMB’s verified result channels, making the fake scores appear authentic at first glance.
The board confirmed that all three suspects are currently in custody and will face legal consequences, describing the act as a serious criminal offence.
Officials also warned that tampering with official examination records or communications is a violation of established regulations and will be treated with zero tolerance.
The incident highlights a growing shift in exam fraud tactics, with technology now being used to create more convincing forms of manipulation compared to traditional methods.
JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin cautioned candidates against attempting to alter their results, stressing that only messages received directly from the board’s official platforms should be trusted.
Candidates were reminded that legitimate results can only be checked by sending “UTMERESULT” to the official short codes provided by the board using their registered phone numbers.
The 2026 UTME exercise, which began in mid-April, is still ongoing nationwide, with results expected to be released in batches as marking continues.
Authorities say the swift arrests are meant to serve as a warning to others, as efforts intensify to protect the integrity of public examinations in the country.