The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has arrested 56 roadside operators for their involvement in examination malpractice in the ongoing 2023 May/June Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.
The Head of the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council, Patrick Areghan, who disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection tour of some schools in Abuja, stated that the arrests were made in Ibadan, Abeokuta, Umuahia, and Maiduguri, adding that the suspects will be paraded on national televisions.
Areghan said: “We are not interested in failing students but in seeing them pass, but the only thing is we cannot help them to pass. We only encourage them by telling them what to [do] and [what] not to do. We are talking to them to make sure they don’t get involved in examination malpractice.
“We have arrested students, a supervisor, candidates, and other groups in Ibadan. In Maiduguri, supervisors and candidates were arrested, while in Abeokuta, a school proprietor who started it (examination malpractice) from the beginning of the examination was arrested along with others. In Osogbo, a candidate and supervisor, and so many others in Umuahia too, who were involved in the illegal act, were arrested.
“We have gone further by identifying and arresting the rogue operators involved in malpractice, unlike last year.
“Do not copy what your mate writes because nothing will make you write the same thing. If you rely on cheating, you have failed, and we want you to pass.”