Nigerian Journal Sustainability Research

JAMB Busts AI-Powered Fraud Ring Targeting UTME Candidates Across 25 States

2026-03-09

In what JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede called "a grave and disturbing development that strikes at the heart of fairness and merit in the Nigerian educational system," a sophisticated criminal syndicate using artificial intelligence technology was exposed just days before the 2026 UTME season.

The syndicate operated by impersonating high-ranking government officials — including the Minister of Education and the JAMB Registrar himself — through AI-generated videos and manipulated images crafted to lend legitimacy to their fraudulent services.

The JAMB registrar confirmed that three top JAMB officials have been recommended for dismissal for collaborating in sabotaging the system. Two other officials and a staff member of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, are currently undergoing criminal prosecution.

⚠️ Warning to Candidates & Parents

JAMB has declared that membership in WhatsApp groups offering so-called "expo" services will now be treated as criminal participation. The Board is working with the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, and the Office of the National Security Adviser to prosecute all parties — candidates, parents, and school proprietors alike. Ignorance is no longer an accepted defence.

Perhaps the most alarming dimension: Oloyede expressed particular concern over the rising number of underage candidates — approximately 38,000 — who registered for the 2026 UTME, noting that many were being pushed by parents beyond their academic capacity.

"Parents must understand that paying for fraud does not secure a child's future. It destroys it. You are teaching them that cheating is a strategy, that deception is acceptable, and that merit is optional."
— Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar

Oloyede emphasised that the fraudulent activities were not peculiar to any particular region — those involved were spread evenly across different geopolitical zones, proving that examination malpractice is a truly national problem requiring a collective response.

Sources