Spokesperson of the Akwa Ibom command, DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu, said the men were arrested on Monday 15th May, 2017 in a rented apartment at No.13, Lutheran Road, Ikot Ekpene, while trying to hack into JAMB Website to have access to exam questions.
According to him, the leader of the syndicate, one Isaiah Akpan Eshiet, works for Gmail Computer Technology and Management Institute located at No.15, Lutheran Road, Ikot Ekpen as the Centre Manager.
“The Institute was one of the centres approved by JAMB for candidates to write the examinations. The Centre Manager rented the office, which is about a few meters away from the Institute, to specifically perpetrate the crime. He linked a cable from the rented office to a switch of the Institute’s Computer system in the proprietor’s office with the intention to connect the JAMB Server for access to JAMB questions. He had not succeeded when the police on information swooped on him and his associates.
“Among the accomplices in the Command’s custody were scouts for interested candidates and those on standby, popularly referred to as mercenaries, who were to solve the exam questions and transmit answers to candidates in the examination hall at the Institute,” DSP Ikechukwu explained in a statement.
Items recovered from the syndicate include 27 laptops, cables and a generating set.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Don Awunah, however reiterated the Command’s commitment in reducing all forms of crimes, adding that, they will continue to collaborate with all exam bodies to eliminate cheats from the processes and safeguard their collective integrity.
