Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, says four soldiers were killed on Sunday in an ambush by terrorists in Zamfara.

In a statement on Tuesday, Buba said the troops encountered two separate ambushes by the terrorists at Kuran Mota village and along Alikere to Yarmalimai community in Zamfara.

Buba said three soldiers also sustained injuries during the ambush.

He said the troops succeeded in neutralising some of the terrorists, adding that they were supported by the air component during the operation.

“On 12 May 2024, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI encountered 2 separate ambushes, namely at Kuran Mota Village as well as along Road Alikere – Yarmalimai village in Zamfara state,” the statement reads.

“Though troops fought fiercely to extricate themselves from the situation, Sadly, troops recorded casualties of 4 soldiers killed in action, while 3 were wounded in action in the first ambush.

“In the second ambush incident, 5 soldiers sustained minor injuries from gunshot wounds, and the soldiers have been stabilized as they were evacuated to FOB Faskari for medication care.

“During the ambush, troops received support from the air component, OP HADARIN DAJI, as well as reinforcement from FOB YARMALIMAI.

“The joint effort of both forces dealt a severe blow to the coalition of terrorists that gathered in numerical strength to execute both ambushes.

“Accordingly, several of the terrorists were neutralised as they suffered heavy casualties.

“Troops have unlocked the change in tactics of these terrorists and made necessary adjustments to maintain tactical superiority in the battlefield.”

Mahmud Albarnawy, the eldest son of the founder of the Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP), has reportedly surrendered to operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Borno.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said Mahmud surrendered to the security operatives on May 12.

Intelligent sources told Makama that 22-year-old Mahmud was confirmed to be the son of Maman Nur, founder of the ISWAP, after he was profiled at the NSCDC headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno capital.

The publication said an uncle of Mahmud in Gamboru Ngala encouraged him to surrender after he received information about his readiness to abandon the group.

“A reliable agent was sent to convey him to Maiduguri. They arrived in Maiduguri on May 11 at about 1 pm,” the publication said.

“Mahmud was later debriefed and profiled by an intelligence officer of the command, where he confessed to having sneaked out of the Ali Ngulde camp in Mandara Mountain, Gwoza LGA, into Maiduguri and stayed for about a month at Gwange in the city capital before relocating to Gamboru Ngala without any alarm or distress signs from communities.

“During his stay in Gamboru Ngala, some of his late father’s loyalists were persuading him to return to the Lake Chad general area to pay allegiance to ISWAP, but he refused, citing the betrayal and eventual execution of his late father.”

Makama said Mahmud confessed to having been involved in attacks launched at Bama, Banki, Gwoza, and many other areas in Borno.

The publication said the terrorist who surrendered used to work as a middle-rank fighter under the Boko Haram group.

The publication added that he had been handed over to the Bulunkutu rehabilitation facility for further documentation and custody.

Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the man was nabbed at a bank in Dadin Kowa town in Jos South LGA of the state.

The publication said the incident occurred on May 13.

Intelligence sources told Makama that the man planned to detonate the explosives at the bank but was spotted by a vigilante operative who raised the alarm.

The publication said after the suspect was apprehended, an angry mob surrounded him and insisted he should be killed.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children — mostly girls — were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.