Security operatives on Wednesday night repelled another attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, killing one of the assailants during a gun battle, officials have said.

The attack occurred at about 11 p.m. when some gunmen attempted to breach the institute's outer security perimeter, security sources told PREMIUM TIMES. In a statement issued on Thursday, the institute's head of public affairs, Osime Samuel, said the attackers exchanged gunfire with security personnel until they were forced to retreat following what he described as a swift and coordinated response by security forces.

One of the assailants was neutralised during the encounter, while others fled, some with suspected gunshot injuries, the statement said. Mr Samuel added that the attackers failed to gain access to the premises, stressing that participants in the Senior Executive Course, staff members, residents, and facilities within the institute were not harmed.

The latest incident comes barely days after security operatives foiled a similar attempt around the institute, prompting authorities to further tighten security at the strategic facility. In recent weeks, NIPSS has reinforced its layered security architecture, including the deployment of additional armed personnel, improved night surveillance, stricter access controls, and closer coordination with sister security agencies conducting joint patrols around Kuru and adjoining communities.

Osime Samuel is the head of public affairs at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). He is responsible for managing the institute's public image and coordinating with external stakeholders. Samuel has been in this role since 2022, and his appointment was facilitated by the institute's director-general, Prof. Ayo Omotayo.

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) was established in 1979 as part of the federal government's efforts to strengthen the country's policy framework. The institute is tasked with providing strategic advice to the government on key issues, including economic policy, national security, and social development. It has a long history of hosting top politicians, security officials, and other high-ranking public officials for training and policy briefings.

Security concerns in Plateau State have been heightened in recent months, prompting the federal government to deploy more troops and increase surveillance in the region. The latest incident has sparked renewed calls for the government to take proactive measures to protect critical national institutions like the NIPSS. The government has repeatedly pledged to strengthen security around such facilities.

Security measures at the NIPSS have been further tightened, with more security personnel deployed to the facility and improved surveillance put in place. The institute has also strengthened its access controls, requiring all visitors to undergo rigorous checks before entering the premises.

Prof. Ayo Omotayo is the director-general of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). He is a renowned scholar and expert in public policy, having served as a professor at several top universities in the country. Omotayo was appointed as the institute's director-general in 2021, after serving as a deputy director-general.

NIPSS has a long history of hosting top politicians and other high-ranking public officials for training and policy briefings. In recent years, the institute has also become a hub for strategic policy discussions and analysis, with several top think tanks and research institutions partnering with it to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration.

The attack on the NIPSS is the latest in a series of incidents targeting critical national institutions in Plateau State. The region has experienced several security challenges in recent months, including a rise in banditry and kidnapping. The federal government has repeatedly pledged to strengthen security in the region and protect key facilities like the NIPSS.

One killed as gunmen attack NIPSS again.