UTME: Five arrested in Kaduna for impersonation

Opeyemi Adelere

Five suspected candidates have been arrested in Kaduna for impersonation in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The arrest was made by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Kaduna State, led by the state Commandant, Mr Babangida Dutsinma on Tuesday.

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While monitoring the UTME exercise, Four male suspects were arrested in Sabongari, Kaduna North and Kaduna South Local Government Areas, while the remaining suspect, a female, was picked-up in Chikun Local Government.

One of the suspects, Victor Oforbuke, a 30 year- old Master’s Degree holder, was arrested at Zaria Academy where he posed as 29 years old Bello Mustafa, who engaged him in the deal for a fee of N20,000.

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A 19-year old Abdullahi Alkassim-Maikano sat for the examination on behalf of Shuaibu Hamza, 29, and were both apprehended in Kaduna-South. In Kaduna North, a 32-year old John Michael impersonated Sanusi Shehu, having received a sum of N15, 000 out of N20,000 while the female suspect, Bilkisu Ojulaye, 17, was arrested at Bethel Baptist Centre in Chikun local government area when she attempted to write the exam for one Philomena Ugbe.

According to Dutsinma, the monitoring was to ensure transparency in the ongoing UTME being conducted by JAMB. “I personally monitored the exercise alongside Head of Operations Department of the command and the media, and I am satisfied with the conduct of the examination,” he said.

Further speaking, the Commandant charged candidates to shun any act of malpractice, adding that violators of the examination code of conduct would face the wrath of law. Dutsinma said all suspects would be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.