Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a devastating 24‑hour period that has left the Gyel District of Jos South Local Government Area reeling, gunmen killed five youths at a mining site in Gero village on Tuesday afternoon, just hours after a separate attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru claimed the lives of three security operatives. The attacks, which occurred within a 5‑kilometre radius, have heightened fears over the escalating insecurity in Plateau State and raised urgent questions about the safety of strategic national institutions.
The NIPSS attack occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026, when armed men invaded the elite policy institute located in Kuru, near Jos. According to multiple reports, the attackers targeted the staff quarters of the institution, specifically the residences of the Acting Director of Studies, Barrister Nima Salman‑Mann, and a Directing Staff, Professor Haruna Dabin. Sources told Daily Trust that the targeted staff had received handwritten notes on Saturday demanding $100,000 and N15 million each, which were reportedly reported to management.
The attackers stormed the institute, firing sporadically and triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire with security personnel stationed at the facility. Despite the swift response of security forces, three operatives lost their lives during the confrontation: two soldiers and one police officer attached to the institute’s security department. A staff member of the institute, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the security operatives prevented the attackers from gaining deeper access to the institution. A resident of Kuru, Bulus Haruna, told newsmen that the sound of sustained gunfire threw surrounding communities into panic.
The Head of Public Affairs at NIPSS, Dr Osime Samuel, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the situation was brought under control and that there was no threat to participants, staff or residents. “Security agencies have commenced investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the statement added. The Plateau State Police Command also confirmed the attack, with Police Public Relations Officer SP Alfred Alabo stating that investigations had been launched.
Barely 15 hours later, at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, another group of gunmen stormed a mining site in Gero village, located approximately five kilometres from NIPSS. A resident, Ritiji Dalyop, told Vanguard that the victims – all identified as youths – were engaged in mining activities when the attackers invaded the site and opened fire indiscriminately. All five victims were shot dead instantly.
The killings were confirmed in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, who alleged that the attack was part of growing security threats in communities around the area. Tengwong expressed concern over the safety of residents and participants at the National Institute, and called for urgent intervention by security agencies to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among affected communities. He also urged government authorities to strengthen security surveillance and ensure the protection of lives and property.
The back‑to‑back attacks have intensified longstanding security challenges in Plateau State, where farming and herding communities, as well as mining sites, have often been flashpoints for violence. While the motive for the NIPSS attack remains unclear, the targeting of top institute officials raises troubling questions about the vulnerability of strategic national institutions. The mining site attack, meanwhile, underscores the perilous conditions faced by those engaged in informal mining, a sector that has become increasingly targeted by armed groups seeking to extort or eliminate rivals.
As of the time of this report, the Plateau State Police Command had not provided detailed briefings on either incident. SP Alfred Alabo told Daily Trust that he had not been briefed on the Gero attack at press time. Efforts to reach him for further comments were unsuccessful. The bodies of the three security operatives killed at NIPSS have been deposited at a mortuary, while the remains of the five miners are yet to be formally identified. Security agencies have intensified patrols across Jos South LGA as investigations continue.
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