The Nigeria Police Force says it has deployed rapid response teams to examination centres nationwide ahead of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), while dismissing reports of threats to candidates as unfounded.
Force Public Relations Officer Anthony Placid, in a statement Tuesday, said the police were aware of “recent unfounded rumours” about the safety of centres in parts of the North Central region.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that these claims are without basis,” he said.
Placid said additional security measures had been put in place ahead of the examination scheduled to begin Thursday.
“To this end, extra security has been deployed at examination centres nationwide, both overtly and covertly,” he said, adding that patrols, perimeter checks, and rapid response teams had been positioned at strategic locations.
He said the police were working with other security agencies to ensure adequate monitoring during the exercise.
“The Nigeria Police Force is collaborating closely with sister security agencies to monitor and address potential threats effectively,” he said.
Placid warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the examination would face swift arrest and prosecution.
“Any individual or group attempting to disrupt the examination process will be swiftly identified and brought to justice,” he said.
He urged candidates to arrive early, comply with examination rules, and report suspicious activity to security personnel.
Placid also cautioned against spreading unverified information online, urging the public to rely on official updates from the police and JAMB.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to run from April 16 to April 25.
