JAMB Arrests Two Candidates, Parent Over Alleged AI-Driven UTME Result Falsification

According to Ireporter Online, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed the arrest of two candidates and a parent over alleged manipulation of 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results using artificial intelligence and other electronic tools.

The development was announced on Friday, the same day the board released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the examination on Thursday, April 16.

JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended for allegedly altering official SMS result notifications in a bid to fabricate or manipulate scores and mislead parents and guardians.

He stated that the individuals involved had used AI-assisted methods and electronic devices to tamper with result messages, describing the act as a serious breach of examination regulations and a criminal offence that would be prosecuted.

Benjamin further warned candidates against interfering with result notifications sent through JAMB’s official SMS channels, 55019 and 66019, stressing that such actions would attract strict legal consequences.

He also advised candidates to verify their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number used during registration, adding that official result slips would be made available at a later date.

The 2026 UTME, which commenced on April 16, is scheduled to run until April 22 across various centres nationwide, with results being released in batches as the exercise progresses.