By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested a suspected impersonator who allegedly posed as a coordinator of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and defrauded unsuspecting candidates during the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) process.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday, said the suspect, identified as Eric Nwombu, was apprehended in Atani on the morning of April 14, 2026, by operatives attached to the Inspector-General of Police’s Safe School Initiative, following reports of suspicious activities at a cyber café in the area.
According to him, the suspect was allegedly collecting JAMB examination slips from candidates who had visited the centre to check their examination venues.
“The arrest followed a report of how the suspect was collecting 2026 JAMB examination slips from students who had come to check their examination centers in a Cyber cafe, Atani.
“Upon inquiry, the suspect allegedly claimed to be a JAMB 2026 coordinator in Atani. The Staff of the Computer Center, dissatisfied with his response and suspicious of his actions, alerted the Police Operatives in the area,” the PPRO said in the press statement.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that upon sighting the approaching police operatives, the suspect attempted to flee but was swiftly pursued and arrested.
According to him, items recovered from him include eight JAMB examination slips and an exercise book containing names and examination numbers of candidates; and he could not satisfactorily account for the materials during preliminary interrogation.
The Command confirmed that preliminary investigations have commenced, while the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for further discreet investigation and possible prosecution.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting the credibility of public examinations and preventing criminal elements from exploiting candidates.
He also urged members of the public, particularly candidates and parents, to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around examination centres to law enforcement agencies.
