By Our Correspondent

National News – The Nigeria Police Force has intensified security at examination venues nationwide ahead of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The move comes amid circulating rumours about threats to candidates’ safety, which authorities have firmly dismissed as baseless.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, the police have deployed rapid response teams and reinforced surveillance across centres to ensure a safe and orderly examination process.

He stressed that the action was necessary to protect candidates, maintain public confidence, and guarantee a smooth conduct of the nationwide exam scheduled from April 16 to April 25, 2026.

Placid explained that the security strategy includes both overt and covert operations such as routine patrols, perimeter monitoring, and strategic positioning of personnel.

He added that the police are collaborating closely with other security agencies to identify and neutralise any potential threats before they escalate.

The police also issued a warning that anyone attempting to disrupt the examination would be swiftly apprehended and prosecuted.

Candidates were advised to arrive early, comply strictly with examination guidelines, and report suspicious activities to security officials on ground.

Parents and the general public were reassured of adequate protection throughout the examination period.

Authorities further urged citizens to avoid spreading unverified information on social media and instead rely on official updates from security agencies and JAMB.