by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Isiaku Muhammad, in-charge of Training and Development at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, was at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, in Jos South local government area of Plateau State, to sympathy with the Institute on the attack of Monday, which claimed the lives of two soldiers and a policeman.
Addressing participants of “Course 48” of the Institute, the Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of the North Central Zone said he was on tour of duty in the North Central, and the Inspector-General of Police directed him to come personally.
“You see the concern over the death of the police officer and two civilians, who lost their lives trying to defend this institution.”
According to him, the IG also directed him to ensure that the DG and the community in the institution are not alone in this time of grief.
“The Inspector-General of Police and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force are with them throughout this difficult period,” he stated.
He reaffirmed that a lot of work is being done in the background to ensure that such incidents do not happen at the area again.
“We are taking a lot of assessments of the situation in and around the institution. It is being processed for the IGP to fortify the institution,” he stated.
While he was with the DG, he requested that the institution be secured further. “We have enjoyed peace in 31 years and, very soon, normalcy will return,” he said.
Speaking earlier to Journalists shortly after his meeting with the DG of the Institute, he disclosed that, “It is welcome experience, especially at this time when we know that schools are being targeted. But this time around, the National Institute is a school of a special class.
“We are in a house with participants from all over the country. So, the spirit of this school cannot be compromised, and we are taking it very seriously. Part of the reason is to see the security situation and other security agencies around the institute,” he said.
He also assured them that they are skilled personnel and are fully committed, adding that, “This is their environment, and I believe they are staying here not only to protect you, but they are well skilled,” he said.
While urging the people – as a way of personal security – to be mindful of where they go, be mindful of areas they visit, especially at night, and they should try to come home early before it gets dark.
“But I believe the institute is well secured for academic learning, and I believe the institute is doing everything possible to make sure you are well secured,” he noted.
DIG Isiaku Mohammed explained stressed that he was at the National Institute to commiserate with the DG and the good people of the community for the loss of two Army Officers and one Policeman in the school.
He reminded participants thus: “The IGP sent me personally to come and commiserate and identify with the Institute and let them know that the Institute is not alone in this time of grief.
“The IGP is with them, the Nigeria Police Force is with them, and to assure everybody in this compound that the police are doing everything possible to ensure that the environment is safe for them to conduct their academic exercises and continue their research.”
On his assessment of the security situation in the area, he said “The conventional police have done a beautiful job; the military have also done a wonderful job in securing the environment.
“That notwithstanding, we are still reviewing it, and we are also going to reinforce the compound. While I was with the DG, he mentioned the issue of having a Police Post within the compound, which I am going to discuss with the Inspector-General of Police very soon,” he assured.
“We are going to have an outpost, which will be populated with policemen, and also have a patrol bike that will enable proper security at the compound,” he noted.
On his part, the DG of the National Institute (NIPSS) Kuru, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, exclaimed that, “Well, we feel supported, we feel relieved; and let me use the word, ‘I feel loved’ because on the night of the attack, every person that I called responded.
“I called the Minister for Defence, he responded. I called the IGP, he responded. The GOC responded. It was because they responded as quickly as possible that we were able to repel the attack that came to us at the National Institute.”
He explained that, “The attackers earlier had told us that they were going to come, and we didn’t believe that they would come; but we still prepared for them to come.”
The DG noted that, “The Policemen didn’t run away. The Nigerian soldiers stood firm. So, when they came, about the time they came, we were ready for them, and that is why we were able to repel the attack.
“It’s unfortunate we lost three members of the security forces, and I pray that their families will be consoled and that they will rest in peace. There are many theories. We don’t know which to believe, but at this time, we don’t want to speculate.
“The security agencies are investigating. They are interrogating. They have made a few arrests, and I’m sure we are going to get to the bottom of why and how they decided to attack.”
He recalled, “They had posted notices that they needed us to give them one million dollars and ₦50 million. We didn’t do it. They said they were going to come, and they actually came. But they met us solid. Unfortunately, three officers paid with their live.”
The DG added that, “We are going on with our studies; nothing has changed. Participants are attending their classes. They just ended the French Class now. So, we call these things ‘perturbations.’
“Those, who are charged with security, believe that it is part of the insecurity in the country, and then we are reassured. Visits like this are also very reassuring.”
He also commended the Commissioner of Police, who had done a humongous job in helping them to keep the place strong, saying, “So, we believe that they tried to disrupt us.”
“For 48 years, the National Institute has always mounted these courses. Even during COVID, we mounted our courses. So, we are going to end up very well at the end of the day. We just see this as a small perturbation, and it’s over now,” he stated.
The Monitor General of ‘Course 48’ of 2026 Students of the Institute, Conel Okechukwu Azike, noted that, “The recent unfortunate event that happened some days ago, we are truly reassured and even comforted by his words.
“We are particularly grateful for the promise of the establishment of a Police Station here in the Institute. We are equally grateful, Sir, for the advice you have given us, and I want to tell you, Thank you.” While heaving a sigh of relief, he said their fears have been allayed, adding, “And we are at peace at the moment because we know that the Nigerian Police Force and the security apparatus of our great country, Nigeria, are on top of the situation. The security of the Institute is assured, especially with the assurances that you have given us today.”