The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed the arrest of two candidates and a parent for allegedly falsifying results from the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) using artificial intelligence and other digital tools.
The announcement was made on Friday alongside the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the examination held on Thursday, April 16. According to JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the suspects were apprehended for manipulating official SMS notifications to forge or alter examination scores.
In a statement, Benjamin explained that the individuals used technological means, including AI, to distort the content of result messages originally sent by the board. Their intention, he noted, was to mislead parents, guardians, and the general public into believing that higher scores had been achieved.
He emphasized that such actions constitute a serious criminal offence and warned that the board is committed to ensuring that all those involved are prosecuted in accordance with the law. The examination body reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on malpractice and the misuse of technology to undermine the credibility of its processes.
JAMB further cautioned candidates against tampering with official result notifications, stressing that messages sent via its designated SMS platforms are the only valid means of accessing UTME scores. The board highlighted its official shortcodes, 55019 and 66019, as the approved channels for result verification.
Candidates who sat for the examination on April 16 were advised to check their results by sending the text “UTMERESULT” to either of the designated numbers using the phone number linked to their registration. This measure, according to the board, is intended to maintain transparency and reduce the risk of fraud.
The incident underscores growing concerns about the misuse of emerging technologies in examination malpractice, prompting renewed calls for vigilance among candidates and stricter enforcement by authorities.
