The Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has apologised to the Berom Nation over remarks made during a recent television interview in which he referred to reports about a purported “Berom militia” while speaking on the attempted attack on the Institute.
In a statement issued by the management of NIPSS, the Institute said the Director-General regretted that his comments had been interpreted as attributing responsibility for the security incident to the Berom people or suggesting the existence of an organised militia linked to the ethnic group.
According to the statement, the Director-General explained that his remarks during the Arise Television interview merely referenced reports, commentaries and speculations that were already circulating in the public domain as he responded to questions on a rapidly evolving security situation.
“The Director General wishes to clarify that, in responding to questions on a rapidly evolving security situation, he merely alluded to various reports, commentaries and speculations that were already in the public domain. His remarks were neither intended to validate any of those narratives nor to attribute responsibility for the incident to the Berom people or any other ethnic group. Likewise, they were not intended to suggest the existence of any organised militia associated with the Berom Nation,” the statement said.
The Institute acknowledged that the remarks had generated concern within the Berom community and said the Director-General regretted the unintended consequences of his comments.
“The Director General recognises that his remarks have caused concern and have been interpreted in a manner that has understandably generated anxiety among members of the Berom community. He deeply regrets this unintended outcome and offers his sincere apologies to the Berom Nation for the concern and distress the remarks may have caused,” the statement added.
NIPSS further reaffirmed its longstanding relationship with the Berom people, describing them as one of the Institute’s principal host communities whose goodwill, hospitality and cooperation have contributed significantly to maintaining a peaceful environment for its operations.
The Institute also highlighted several community development initiatives undertaken under the Director-General’s leadership, including youth coaching programmes, ICT and digital skills training, mentorship for secondary school students, girl-child empowerment initiatives and other community-impact projects, saying they reflected its commitment to the welfare and development of host communities.
While reiterating the apology, NIPSS stressed the need for restraint and careful verification when commenting on sensitive security matters to avoid fuelling ethnic tensions, assuring the Berom Nation of its commitment to sustaining the longstanding relationship of mutual trust, respect and cooperation between the Institute and its host communities.
