Four persons have been apprehended by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Nasarawa State for alleged involvement in examination malpractices.
They were apprehended on Saturday during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Lafia on Sunday, the NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Mamoud Fari, said the suspects were arrested in Karu and Akwanga local government areas and at the Ta’al e-Library in the Lafia Local Government Area of the state.
He said the suspects were arrested while committing the crime at the various examination centres, adding, “The command will not allow this to continue in this country otherwise, the country will collapse one day.”
Fari noted that some of the suspects were hired to write the examination by some students, adding that nobody was above the law.
“It is very unfortunate that our leaders of tomorrow have become criminals at tender ages. If they have started committing crime at this age, what will happen when they become leaders of this country?” he asked.
The commander stated that the suspects would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others in the state, adding that they risked 21 years’ imprisonment upon conviction.
In an interview with our correspondent, the Zonal Director in charge of Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue states, Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, Dr Mamud Adamu, said the suspects were caught impersonating candidates for the examination.
He said the JAMB management had put in place drastic measures to checkmate irregularities during its examinations in the state.
One of the suspects, Joshua Aziah, admitted to the crime and pleaded for forgiveness.
