Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has uncovered a nationwide syndicate allegedly deploying artificial intelligence tools to manipulate and bypass the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration process.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this on Saturday during a press conference in Abuja, revealing that several members of the syndicate have already been arrested and are currently under investigation.
According to him, the group used advanced digital techniques and artificial intelligence-driven platforms to illegally assist candidates during registration, enabling underage and academically unprepared applicants to beat JAMB’s established screening and validation systems.
Oloyede disclosed that about 38,000 underage candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, out of which at least 100 were traced to the syndicate. He said many of the affected candidates were pushed into the process by their parents, despite lacking the academic readiness required for tertiary education.
“Parents and their children are willing collaborators and cannot be said to be innocent,” he said.
He added that JAMB has forwarded the names of the affected candidates to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, recommending the immediate cancellation of their registrations.
Beyond the candidates, the registrar revealed that internal sabotage also played a role in the breach. He said three senior JAMB officials have been recommended for dismissal after being found to have collaborated with the syndicate.
In addition, two other JAMB officials and a staff member of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, are currently facing criminal prosecution for their alleged roles in undermining the integrity of the examination process.
Oloyede further disclosed that investigations have shown the syndicate operates across at least 25 states, with three private school proprietors currently in custody for aiding and abetting the illegal activities.
He praised the support of security agencies, noting that their intelligence and technical collaboration helped expose the network. He added that JAMB has significantly upgraded its digital infrastructure in recent years, making it increasingly difficult for fraudsters to compromise the system.
“We are ahead of them. The only problem we have is public opinion,” he said.
The registrar assured Nigerians that all those found culpable would face full legal consequences, stressing that the board would continue to strengthen its monitoring systems to safeguard the credibility of national examinations.
2026 UTME is expected to hold nationwide in the coming months, with JAMB reiterating its commitment to a transparent, fair, and merit-driven admission process.
