June 16, (THEWILL) — Suspected gunmen, on Monday night, launched a deadly attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, near Jos, killing a police officer and two soldiers during a fierce exchange of gunfire with security operatives guarding the nation’s foremost policy institution.
Located in Kuru, Plateau State, NIPSS remains Nigeria’s highest policy and strategic studies institution, responsible for training senior government officials, military officers, technocrats and policy strategists drawn from across the country, while playing a critical role in shaping public policy and governance frameworks.
THEWILL gathered that the attackers stormed the institute at about 11:00 p.m. on June 15, in what appeared to be a coordinated attempt to breach the facility’s perimeter and gain access to the residential quarters housing course participants undergoing strategic policy training at the institution.
Security personnel stationed at the institute, however, successfully repelled the assailants before they could penetrate the participants’ accommodation wing, leading to a gun battle that reportedly left three security operatives dead, including a police officer attached to a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and two military personnel.
Confirming the incident, the institute’s Head of Public Affairs, Dr Osime Samuel, said the situation had been brought under control, assuring that there was no immediate threat to participants, staff, residents or infrastructure within the facility.
In an official statement issued after the incident, the institute sought to calm public concerns, insisting that normal activities at the institution were continuing without disruption despite the security breach attempt.
“There is currently no threat to the safety of participants, staff, residents, or facilities of the Institute, and normal activities are continuing as scheduled,” the statement read.
The management of NIPSS further urged the public and media organisations to avoid speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding the attack, stressing that it would be premature to draw conclusions on the exact nature, scope, or final outcome of the incident while investigations remain ongoing.
The institute advised journalists and members of the public to rely strictly on verified information from official security agencies and authorised government channels.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to disclose the motive behind the attack, though security presence around the institution has since been significantly reinforced.
Sources said law enforcement agencies have commenced investigations while manhunt operations are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the assault.
The attack has triggered fresh concerns over security around strategic national institutions, particularly the vulnerability of government facilities involved in national policy formulation and senior executive training.
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