Three security personnel were killed in the early hours of Tuesday when gunmen attacked the staff quarters of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, in Plateau State.
The attack was confirmed by the institute’s Head of Public Affairs, Osime Samuel, who said the situation had been brought under control following the swift intervention of security agencies.
TheFact Daily notes that the incident has heightened concerns over the security of public institutions and senior government officials, amid rising cases of violent attacks and criminal activities across parts of the country.
Although Samuel did not disclose the identities of the victims, reports identified them as two soldiers and a police officer who were deployed to protect the facility.
“There is currently no threat to the safety of participants, staff, residents, or facilities of the Institute. Normal activities are continuing as scheduled,” Samuel said in a statement.
He added that NIPSS was working closely with relevant authorities and would provide verified information as investigations progressed.
“We urge members of the public and the media to rely on official communications from the Institute and relevant security agencies,” he said.
Samuel also reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to the safety of its community and commended the professionalism of security personnel involved in responding to the attack.
Sources, however, indicated that the assailants may have specifically targeted the residences of the Acting Director of Studies, Nima Salman-Mann, and another senior staff member, Haruna Dabin.
According to the sources, both officials allegedly received handwritten threat notes pasted on their doors on Saturday, demanding $100,000 and N15 million respectively. The threats were reportedly brought to the attention of the institute’s management before the attack.
The sources further disclosed that while local vigilantes provide daytime security around the staff quarters, soldiers and police officers are deployed at night. The slain personnel were said to have been killed during a gun battle with the attackers.
