Muslim Girls in Hijab Allegedly Harassed at JAMB Centres Amid UTME 2026 Exams

JAMB CBT Centre

Muslim Girls in Hijab Allegedly Harassed at JAMB Centres Amid UTME 2026 Exams

Reports emerging from parts of Nigeria have sparked widespread concern over alleged harassment of Muslim female candidates wearing hijab during the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Eyewitness accounts and viral videos circulating on social media claim that some female candidates were allegedly asked to remove their hijab before being allowed into examination halls at certain Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, particularly in the South-West region. The incidents have triggered heated reactions from parents, religious groups, and civil society organisations.

One widely shared video showed a female candidate at a CBT centre reportedly adjusting and removing her hijab before entering the exam premises, a scene that has been described by critics as humiliating and discriminatory.

Muslim groups have condemned the reported incidents, insisting that the hijab is a protected expression of religious identity and should not be used as grounds for denial of access or intimidation during national examinations. The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) reportedly alleged that security personnel at one of the centres attempted to prevent entry of candidates wearing hijab before intervention by officials.

Some observers argue that the actions may have been linked to security concerns or attempts to prevent examination malpractice, as CBT centres are typically required to enforce strict identity verification procedures. However, critics maintain that such measures should not translate into religious profiling or humiliation of candidates.

JAMB, in previous clarifications on similar controversies, has maintained that no candidate should be discriminated against on religious or cultural grounds, and has urged examination centres to strictly follow approved guidelines.

The matter has since generated intense debate online, with Nigerians divided between those calling for stricter examination security protocols and others demanding stronger protections for religious rights in public institutions.

As the UTME continues nationwide, stakeholders are calling on JAMB to investigate the allegations and ensure uniform enforcement of policies across all centres to prevent further incidents.