The Nigeria Police Force has moved to reassure the public ahead of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, deploying rapid response teams to examination centres nationwide and dismissing circulating safety rumours as entirely without basis.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, the police confirmed awareness of rumours concerning the safety of some centres in a North Central state but stressed that the claims had no foundation. “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that these claims are without basis,” the statement read. “While the NPF does not act on rumours, the concerns raised by members of the public have been duly noted as it concerns the safety, education and future of our children and wards.”
Placid confirmed that extra security has been deployed at examination centres nationwide, both overtly and covertly, ahead of the examination scheduled to commence on Thursday, 16 April. The measures include routine patrols, perimeter checks and rapid response teams stationed at strategic locations. The police are also working closely with sister security agencies to monitor and respond to potential threats. “Any individual or group attempting to disrupt the examination process will be swiftly identified and brought to justice,” Placid stated.
Candidates were urged to arrive early at their centres, adhere to examination regulations and report any suspicious activity to on-site security personnel. The public was also cautioned against spreading unverified information on social media, with the police advising reliance on official updates from the force and JAMB.
In Anambra State, the state police command announced a separate deployment of 60 Safe School Operatives to designated JAMB examination centres across the state for the period covering 15 to 26 April 2026. The deployment will be coordinated from operational bases across the state’s eight Police Area Commands and supervised by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, ACP Harrison Oruruo. The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the initiative as part of the command’s proactive measures under the Safe School Initiative, aimed at ensuring a secure environment for candidates, invigilators and examination officials while preventing malpractice and security breaches.
With over 2.2 million candidates preparing to sit the 2026 UTME from Thursday, the coordinated security response signals that both federal and state level authorities are treating the integrity and safety of this year’s examination with the seriousness it deserves.
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