NIPSS Attack: Troops Nab Suspects, Recover Stolen Army Rifle in Jos South Raid

Nigerian military troop

NIPSS Attack: Troops Nab Suspects, Recover Stolen Army Rifle in Jos South Raid

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have arrested two suspects in connection with the recent attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State, marking a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the assault on the strategic national institution. The suspects were apprehended on July 4, 2026, at about 3:30 p.m. during an intelligence-led operation by Sector 6 troops at the Trade Centre in Jos South. One of the suspects has been identified as Mr. Aboi, while the identity of the second suspect has not yet been officially released as investigations continue. The two men are allegedly linked to the Berom militia network operating in the area.

Security sources confirmed that the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation to help security agencies identify and apprehend other members of the alleged criminal network responsible for the attack on the NIPSS facility. “The suspects are being exploited for further intelligence that could lead to the arrest of other members of the group involved in the attack,” a security source told Zagazola Makama. The arrests are expected to assist investigators in unraveling the network behind repeated attacks on security personnel and strategic facilities within the Kuru-Vom corridor.

The arrests follow a failed attack on the NIPSS facility on July 2, 2026, which occurred at approximately 12:10 a.m. when armed assailants breached the institute’s security perimeter and opened fire on troops on sentry duty. Troops swiftly engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, neutralizing one suspect while others escaped into nearby rocky terrain with suspected gunshot wounds. No casualties were recorded among security personnel during the encounter.

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During the operation, troops recovered a service rifle bearing registration number CO-3175, loaded with 16 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. Military authorities confirmed that the weapon had been stolen from a Nigerian Army soldier who was killed during an earlier attack at the Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Vom, on April 11, 2026. The recovery of the stolen rifle prompted security agencies to expand investigations into possible links between the recent attacks on security personnel operating along the Kuru-Vom axis.

The July 2 incident was the second attack on NIPSS within a short period. On June 16, 2026, gunmen stormed the institute, resulting in the deaths of three security operatives—two soldiers and one police officer. The attack raised fresh concerns over security around one of Nigeria’s foremost policy training centres. Following the June attack, Vice President Kashim Shettima visited NIPSS for an on-the-spot assessment of the institution’s operations and security arrangements. NIPSS Director-General, Professor Ayo Omotayo, confirmed that intelligence reports had indicated the likelihood of an attack prior to the incident, which enabled security operatives to respond swiftly.

The identification of the slain attacker has generated controversy. Security analyst Zagazola Makama initially reported that the neutralized suspect was a suspected member of an armed Berom militia operating in the area. However, the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) strongly rejected this claim, stating that the Berom community does not operate any militia group. BYM President, Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, challenged the report’s conclusions, arguing that the ethnicity of the deceased had not been independently established and urging security agencies and journalists to rely on verified information when reporting security incidents. In a follow-up report, Zagazola Makama published additional information identifying the deceased attacker as Peter, a Berom resident of the Trade Centre area, supported by local residents and multiple security and community sources, including a WhatsApp video. Security sources said the latest arrests in the same Trade Centre axis have strengthened investigators’ efforts to establish the composition of the group responsible for the attacks.

Military authorities have reinforced security around the NIPSS complex, with troops maintaining aggressive patrols, surveillance, and domination operations aimed at preventing further attacks on the institution and adjoining communities. Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the North Central Zone, Mohammed Bala Ishaq, assured staff and participants of adequate protection, stating that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, had strengthened security deployments within and around the institute.