The Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, has called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to intensify investigations into the recent hacking of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) website.
In a statement released on Saturday through the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, Uzodimma described the arrest of 20 suspects linked to the cyberattack as “timely and necessary,” urging swift prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The arrest is crucial not just for identifying the perpetrators but also for calming the national anxiety that followed the disruption,” the governor said.
JAMB experienced severe technical glitches during its 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), affecting the results of over 370,000 candidates, many of whom were from the South East. Authorities later linked the disruption to a deliberate cyberattack orchestrated for financial gain.
Security agencies confirmed on Friday that 20 individuals had been arrested in connection with the hacking. The suspects were allegedly paid to compromise JAMB’s computer-based testing system, causing widespread confusion, delaying results, and sparking nationwide concern among students and parents.
Governor Uzodimma urged the DSS and police to leave no stone unturned in identifying and prosecuting all those behind the sabotage.
“A swift and thorough investigation followed by immediate arraignment in court will help send a strong signal to potential cybercriminals,” he added.
Describing the JAMB hacking incident as a “national embarrassment,” Uzodimma stressed the importance of safeguarding the integrity of critical national institutions, especially those involved in shaping the future of young Nigerians.
He also commended JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, for what he called “a commendable display of transparency and resilience” throughout the crisis.
“The registrar’s forthrightness has been instrumental in managing this situation and preserving public confidence in the examination body,” Uzodimma noted.
The governor’s remarks come as public scrutiny intensifies over digital infrastructure vulnerabilities and the need for stronger cybersecurity protocols in public institutions.
