The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested four suspects for operating illegal `rogue websites` to defraud unsuspecting West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates across the country.

The suspects are: Chijioke Modestus, Samuel Onwurah, 20, Patrick Nwodo, 30 and Okon Joseph.

The Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, told newsmen in Abuja on Friday that the suspects were arrested by personnel of the Inspector-General of Police monitoring unit at different locations.

Moshood said that Modestus, a 300 level computer science student of Michael Okpara University, Umudike, was arrested at Umuahia, Abia and confessed to have collected N70, 000 from his victims.

He said Onwurah, who was arrested in Kutunku area of Gwagwalada, Abuja collected N90, 000 from his victims while Nwodo, who was arrested at Abakpa Nike in Enugu, also collected N40,000 from his victims.

The spokesman explained further that Joseph, a 200 level Public Health student of the University of Calabar, who was arrested in Calabar collected N120, 000 from his victims.

Moshood, said that officials of WAEC had observed that some persons were soliciting for candidates sitting for the examination, to pay money into their bank accounts for `solved answers’ to questions.

He said that the suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigation, while efforts would be intensified to arrest other operators of the websites.

The spokesman gave assurance to members of the public of the renewed commitment of the force to stamp out criminality in the country.

Mr Yusuf Ari, Zonal Coordinator for WAEC in Abuja, said that the council has been facing such challenges for some time.

He said that the examination body had banned candidates and invigilators from carrying cell phones into examination hall, to check malpractices.

Ari restated the commitment of the council to conduct examination at approved and certified centres only.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WASSCE held on May 12 in the country and other four West African countries.

(NAN)