Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have repelled an attempted attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing one suspected militia member and recovering a service rifle stolen from a soldier during an earlier attack.

The incident occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Wednesday when suspected armed militia members reportedly attempted to breach the security perimeter of the institute under the cover of darkness.

Security sources said troops of Sector 6, deployed to protect the facility, responded swiftly and engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing the group to retreat into nearby rocky terrain.

One of the suspected attackers was killed during the exchange, while others escaped.

A search of the deceased suspect led to the recovery of a service rifle bearing registration number CO-3175, which military authorities said belonged to a soldier killed during an attack on troops at the Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Vom, on April 11, 2026.

The recovered rifle, loaded with 16 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, has been taken into military custody.

The body of the suspected attacker was evacuated to Keystone Hospital, Vom, before being deposited in a mortuary, while troops intensified patrols around the institute to prevent further attacks and reassure residents.

The latest incident marks the third attempted attack on the NIPSS facility within a few weeks.

On June 16, gunmen attacked security personnel guarding the institute’s Moderator’s Quarters, killing Inspector Peter Joseph of the Force Headquarters Operations Department and two military personnel before fleeing with the inspector’s service pistol and two military rifles.

A second attempted infiltration on June 29 was foiled after troops and other security agencies detected suspicious movements around the facility, forcing the suspects to flee into nearby bushes before gaining access.

Security sources said the recovery of the rifle stolen during the April attack represents a major breakthrough in ongoing investigations, suggesting that the same armed network may be responsible for multiple attacks on security personnel in the Kuru-Vom axis.

Military authorities said security has been strengthened around the institute through increased surveillance and aggressive patrols as efforts continue to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle armed militia groups operating in parts of Plateau State.