Delta state government said it has arrested 16 people allegedly involved in examination malpractices at dubious examination centres, otherwise known as “Miracle Centres” outside the state.
Disclosing that the increasing menace of examination cheats had been worrisome, the state government said that the 16 persons suspected to be examination mercenaries were arrested in Asaba last Monday through the help of examination fraud committee under the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
It was gathered that the suspects under the guise of operating extra mural lessons, allegedly hoodwinked unsuspecting and desperate higher education seekers into enrolling for WAEC/ NECO exams with them. After paying huge sums of money they were thereafter taken to the miracle centres in Benin in Edo state or Onitsha, Anambra state where the examinations are written for them by mercenaries.
Confirming the arrest of the suspects to newsmen in Asaba, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chiedu Ebie said the suspects were arrested based on intelligence report, adding that the leader of the syndicate was identified as “Arise & Shine”, and others had been handed over to the police for prosecution.
Also speaking, state’s Police Commissioner Anthony Ogbizi who spoke with newsmen in Asaba, said, “the Suspects confessed to the crime and investigation is ongoing. They will be charged to court on completion of investigation.”
He warned that the police will bring to book perpetrators of examination malpractice in the state.
Examination fraudsters collaborate with principals of various schools with the assurances of writing and passing their examinations in one sitting.
