Gunmen have launched another attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, less than two weeks after President Bola Tinubu ordered the reinforcement of security at the institution following an earlier deadly assault.
The latest attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, was repelled by troops of Sector 6, Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE. One of the attackers was killed, while a Nigerian Army rifle stolen during an earlier attack was recovered.
In a statement, the Nigerian Army said troops on guard at the institute engaged armed suspected criminals after they attempted to breach the institute’s perimeter under the cover of darkness at about 12:10 a.m.
According to the Army, there was no casualty among the troops.
The statement said the troops engaged the attackers in an exchange of fire, killing one of the assailants, while others fled with gunshot wounds into the surrounding high ground.
During a search, troops recovered an AK-pattern rifle with Registration Number CO-3175 from the killed attacker. The weapon was loaded with 16 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
Preliminary checks confirmed the rifle belonged to a Nigerian Army soldier who was killed in action during an earlier encounter with unidentified militia elements at the Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Vom, on April 11, 2026.
The Army said the recovered rifle is now in military custody as part of ongoing investigations into the latest attack and its possible links to previous attacks in the Kuru-Vom axis. The remains of the Slain attacker have also been evacuated to the mortuary through the appropriate authorities.
Following the operation, troops carried out clearance operations around NIPSS Kuru and adjoining communities.
The army urged residents to remain calm and promptly report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies.
On June 19, President Tinubu ordered the reinforcement of security at NIPSS following an earlier attack on the institute’s perimeter that claimed the lives of two soldiers and a police officer.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a visit to participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 48, Tinubu directed the Director-General of NIPSS to work closely with the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to fortify the institute’s perimeter and prevent further attacks.
He also ordered the submission of a comprehensive security reinforcement plan covering surveillance systems, personnel deployment, access control and emergency response mechanisms, alongside weekly progress reports until its completion.
Barely three days ago, on June 29, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE foiled an attempted intrusion into the institute after detecting the movement of suspected intruders around the facility at about 1:30 a.m.
Security personnel’s response forced the suspects to flee into nearby bushes before they could gain access to the institute.
