Operation Enduring Peace neutralises suspected militia member in NIPSS attack

Operation Enduring Peace neutralises suspected militia member after troops repelled a midnight attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State. Soldiers also recovered a military rifle reportedly stolen from a slain soldier during an earlier attack, security sources said.

According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, suspected armed militia fighters tried to breach the security perimeter of the institute shortly after midnight on 2 July. However, troops guarding the facility responded immediately and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.

During the operation, soldiers killed one suspected attacker while others escaped into nearby rocky terrain. They later recovered a service rifle, identified as one stolen during the April 2026 attack on troops at the Federal College of Land Resources Technology in Vom. The weapon, loaded with 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, is now in military custody.

Meanwhile, troops evacuated the suspect’s body and stepped up patrols around NIPSS to prevent further attacks. The latest assault marks the third attempted attack on the institute in recent weeks.

Earlier, gunmen killed three security personnel, including a police inspector, during an attack on the facility on 16 June. Another infiltration attempt on 29 June also failed after security forces detected suspicious movements.

Security officials believe the recovered rifle could help investigators trace armed militia networks operating in the Kuru-Vom axis. Operation Enduring Peace neutralises suspected militia member as part of wider efforts to strengthen security and dismantle criminal groups across Plateau State.