Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested a middle-aged man, identified as Eric Nwombu, for allegedly posing as a coordinator for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). 

The suspect was apprehended in the Atani community of Ogbaru Local Government Area following suspicious activities at a local business center.

The arrest was carried out by officers attached to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Safe School Initiative. According to a statement released on Saturday, April 18, 2026, by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect was caught in the act of collecting 2026 JAMB examination slips from unsuspecting students.

The students had reportedly visited a cyber café in Atani to check their examination centers when Nwombu intercepted them.

Trouble started for the suspect when staff at the computer center grew wary of his claims and behavior. When questioned by the staff, Nwombu insisted he was the official JAMB coordinator for the Atani axis. Dissatisfied with his explanations, the café attendants alerted police operatives patrolling the area. Upon seeing the officers approach, the suspect attempted to flee the scene but was quickly intercepted and taken into custody.

During a search, the police recovered eight JAMB examination slips and an exercise book containing a list of students’ names and their corresponding examination numbers. The spokesperson noted that the suspect could not provide a satisfactory explanation for how he came to be in possession of the sensitive materials or why he was collecting them from candidates.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered a discreet investigation into the matter, after which the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka for prosecution. The Command has reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of public examinations and warned candidates to only engage with accredited JAMB centers to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.