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Tension In Ibadan As NSCDC Officer Allegedly Denies UTME Candidate Entry Over Hijab [VIDEO].
There was mild drama in Ibadan on Thursday when a UTME candidate was initially denied entry into an examination centre over her hijab.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident happened in the early hours at Esther Oshinkoya Computer Based Test Centre, Eleyele Road, as the 2026 UTME conducted by JAMB began nationwide.
A Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) official reportedly stopped the candidate from entering the hall unless she removed her hijab, sparking tension and disagreement between the student’s parents and officials at the venue.
The order was rejected by the parents, who described it as unlawful, insisting that it violated the candidate’s religious rights. The disagreement briefly disrupted activities at the centre before stakeholders intervened to restore order.
One parent, who spoke anonymously, condemned the development, alleging that candidates wearing hijab were being pressured to remove it before being allowed to sit for the exam, describing the action as a breach of constitutional rights and JAMB guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed it stepped in immediately to resolve the matter.
Speaking on the development, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the candidate was eventually allowed to take the exam, while the security officer involved was called to order.
He stressed that JAMB does not discriminate on religious grounds and reiterated that candidates are permitted to observe their religious dress codes during examinations. He added that the incident was regrettable and not in line with JAMB’s established protocol.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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