Nigerian troops have arrested a suspected militia member linked to the recent attempted attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Plateau State.
The suspect, identified as Paul Kolsen, was apprehended at about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2026, at Farm Centre following credible intelligence.
According to security sources, he was arrested while receiving medical treatment for a gunshot wound believed to have been sustained during the attack.
Kolsen is alleged to be a member of a Berom militia group suspected to be behind the assault on the NIPSS facility located in Jos South Local Government Area. The institute is widely regarded as Nigeria’s foremost policy and strategic research institution.
The arrest marks another breakthrough in ongoing investigations, as security agencies intensify efforts to uncover and dismantle the network responsible for the attempted attack.
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The incident is linked to the July 2 attack on the institution, during which troops engaged the assailants in a gun battle. One suspect was reportedly killed, while others escaped into nearby rocky terrain.
During the operation, troops recovered a service rifle bearing registration number CO-3175. The weapon is believed to have been stolen from a soldier killed in an earlier attack on troops stationed at the Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Vom, on April 11.
Security officials say the recovered rifle is providing critical leads in connecting recent attacks on security personnel within the Kuru–Vom axis to the attempted assault on the NIPSS facility.
Paul Kolsen is currently in military custody and undergoing further interrogation. Authorities say intelligence-led operations are ongoing to track down other suspects and fully dismantle the criminal network behind the attacks.
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