Gunmen attacked the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) headquarters in Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State, during the early hours of Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
The violent assault resulted in the deaths of three security operatives, specifically two Nigerian Army soldiers and one police officer.
The assailants launched the coordinated assault between 11:00 p.m. on Monday night and 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday under the cover of darkness.
The gunmen reportedly breached the facility by damaging a portion of the institute’s perimeter fence.
Upon breaching the perimeter, the attackers attempted to advance toward the residential quarters where senior course participants were lodged. However, security personnel stationed at the gates fiercely engaged them in a shootout, forcing the gunmen to flee into the surrounding hills.
A policeman attached to a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and two soldiers lost their lives during the intense gun battle.
The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Head of Public Affairs, Dr. Osime Samuel, confirmed the security breach but stated that the situation has been brought under control.
NIPSS management assured the public that there is no active threat to the safety of participants, staff, or infrastructure, and academic activities are proceeding as scheduled.
Military troops from Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have cordoned off the Kuru axis and are actively tracking the retreat path of the attackers.
Security forces are investigating whether the raid was a coordinated retaliatory strike, as troops in Jos South had arrested a high-profile interstate illegal arms trafficking suspect just 24 hours prior to the breach.