Security operatives at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, have successfully repelled another attack by suspected gunmen, killing one of the assailants during a fierce exchange of gunfire.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Wednesday when the armed men reportedly attempted to breach the institute’s security perimeter.

However, security personnel swiftly responded, engaging the attackers in a gun battle that forced them to retreat.

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In a statement issued on Thursday by the institute’s Head of Public Affairs, Dr. Osime Samuel, NIPSS confirmed that one of the suspected attackers was neutralised, while several others escaped with varying degrees of injuries.

The institute said the attackers failed to gain access to its premises, assuring that participants of the Senior Executive Course, staff, residents, and facilities remained safe throughout the incident.

According to the statement, security agencies have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects while strengthening surveillance and other proactive security measures within and around the institution.

NIPSS reaffirmed that the safety of lives and property remains its top priority and commended the prompt response and professionalism displayed by security operatives during the attack.

The institute also urged members of the public to disregard misinformation capable of causing unnecessary panic.

The latest assault comes just weeks after another failed attempt by gunmen to infiltrate the prestigious policy institute, raising fresh concerns over recurring security threats in the area.

A three-year-old child has been rescued alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela, six days after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the South American nation, offering a glimmer of hope amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The remarkable rescue took place in La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, which struck less than a minute apart on June 24.

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Rescue workers have continued round-the-clock search operations despite the challenges posed by repeated aftershocks.

The United Nations described the rescue as a powerful reminder that every life matters as emergency teams continue combing collapsed buildings for survivors.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes have claimed nearly 2,000 lives, while more than 6,400 people have been rescued since the disaster struck.

Tens of thousands of survivors remain without adequate shelter, with humanitarian agencies warning that urgent needs continue to grow.

The UN refugee agency said the scale of the disaster has left thousands of families in desperate need of emergency assistance, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that national and international rescue teams remain active in the affected communities.

UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams are also assessing the extent of the destruction and identifying communities most in need of humanitarian support.

Officials said about 1,000 buildings, including hospitals, have either been damaged or completely destroyed.

More than 400 schools and water systems have also been severely affected, worsening living conditions for residents.

To support relief efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered an initial 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies, including emergency medical kits, water purification materials, safe birth supplies, wheelchairs, child-friendly tents and educational materials. The shipment follows an earlier consignment that arrived from Panama.

UNICEF said the combined aid will support more than 100,000 children and their families over the next three months.

Speaking from La Guaira, UNICEF representative Gabriel Vockel said the organisation is working around the clock to reach as many children and families as possible, while appealing for more donations to expand its life-saving operations.

UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Benes, said many affected families are sleeping outdoors for fear of continued aftershocks and remain in urgent need of clean water, healthcare and safe shelter.

The agency estimates that about 680,000 children across six affected states require humanitarian assistance following what has been described as Venezuela’s most significant earthquake disaster in more than a century.

Authorities also reported that more than 600 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, increasing concerns over further damage and risks to survivors.

UNICEF is seeking $52 million to respond to the earthquake emergency as part of its broader 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for Venezuela, which remains significantly underfunded.

The battle against inflation by the Nigerian government was hit by a wave of global energy disruptions which reversed headline inflation that was on an upward trajectory, and it bowed by 15.93 per cent in May 2026.

This revelation is according to the newly released Meristem 2026 Half-Year Outlook, tagged “Stability Meets Uncertainty, Reprising Risks, Sustaining Growth,” which was officially released by Meristem on Wednesday.

The sudden reversal has been heavily tied to “Operation Epic Fury,” a 38-day joint United States-Israeli military campaign against Iran that commenced on 28 February 2026. The military action led to the effective closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz, triggering a massive global energy shock that drove Brent crude prices above $110 per barrel at its peak.

“The global oil shock trickled down into higher domestic fuel and transportation costs,” market analysts noted in the report, highlighting the swift transmission of international energy volatility into the local Nigerian economy.

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The inflationary pressure comes despite a strong macroeconomic showing elsewhere in the country. Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded 3.89 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, marking its fastest Q1 growth pace in a decade.

This expansion was predominantly driven by vibrant non-oil sectors, including telecommunications and financial services. Furthermore, a surging trade surplus and robust portfolio inflows propelled Nigeria’s foreign reserves across the $50bn milestone in June, for the first time since 2009.

However, the domestic oil sector has struggled to capitalise fully on the high global prices. Maintenance activities at major facilities, such as the Bonga field, kept first-half crude production at a crawl. While output gradually recovered to 1.70 million barrels per day in May, it remained safely below the Federal Government’s budgetary benchmark of 1.84mbpd.

The resurgence of inflation in Nigeria mirrors a broader global trend, as central banks worldwide have been forced to pivot. The era of monetary easing has faced abrupt interruptions, with the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan delivering surprise 25-basis-point rate hikes to combat energy-driven price hikes.

With central banks shifting to a “higher for longer” interest rate stance to contain these reignited inflation fears, the report notes that Nigerian policymakers face the delicate task of balancing robust domestic growth against compounding, energy-induced living costs in the second half of the year.