NIPSS attack:Fresh facts emerge about how soldiers, police officer were killed in night raid

Gunmen attacked Nigeria’s National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State, killing two soldiers and a police officer guarding staff quarters days after extortion notes demanding payment had been left at the doors of two senior officials.

Gunfire shattered the night in Kuru on Monday as gunmen stormed the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), leaving two soldiers and a police officer dead.

Daily Trust gathered that the attackers had their sights on the residences of Acting Director of Studies, Barrister Nima Salman-Mann, and Directing Staff, Professor Haruna Dabin. Chillingly, handwritten notes had been pasted on both officials’ doors on Saturday, demanding $100,000 and N15 million respectively, a threat already flagged to management before the bloodshed.

A source explained how the deadly clash unfolded. “During the day, local security men watch over the staff quarters. At night, soldiers and police are deployed to provide security in the area. It is believed that the attackers came to the houses of the staff they had earlier sent notes demanding money,” the source said.

NIPSS confirmed the breach in a statement Tuesday but stayed tight-lipped on casualties. “The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, wishes to inform the public that a security incident occurred in the vicinity of the Institute in the early hours of today,” it said, adding that there’s “no threat to the safety of participants, staff, residents, or facilities” and activities continue as scheduled.

Police spokesperson SP Alabo Alfred confirmed the killings, noting reinforcements have since been deployed. The attack joins a grim trend of raids on Nigerian institutions, following May’s deadly ISWAP assault on a military training school in Yobe.