5 terror suspects slain in Lanao del Norte clashes

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — An alleged leader and four members of terrorist group Dawlah Islamiyah were killed in a series of encounters in Munai, Lanao del Norte on Monday morning, according to security officials.

Five soldiers were also wounded in the firefights that first broke out at around 3 a.m. in Barangay Cadayonan, according to Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III, chief of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force ZamPeLan.

The military identified the fatalities as Najeb Laguindab, who also used the aliases Abu Jihad and Abu Yad, and his followers Johaiver Dumar, Salman Nasrudin, Mohaimen Hadji Ali and an alias Muslima or Payko.

Ali was positively identified as one of the lookouts in a bomb attack on Marawi State University (MSU) in Marawi City on Dec. 3, 2023.

The fatalities reportedly belonged to a Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group faction led by Nasser Daud, alias Mahater or Ustads Nasser.

Daud is also among eight suspects tagged in the MSU bomb attack.

The bombing occurred as people were attending a mass at the university gym.

Four people were killed while several others were wounded in the incident.

Reports said that troopers of the Army’s 103rd Brigade initially engaged Daud’s men in a firefight in Barangay Cadayonan at around 3 a.m. The encounter lasted 45 minutes.

Two hours later, pursuing troopers caught up with the fleeing terrorists in Barangay Maganding, which sparked another firefight that lasted 10 minutes.

During clearing operations, the military recovered the remains of the terrorists along with two rifles and war materials.

Viray said the wounded soldiers were taken to a hospital for treatment. — Pia Lee-Brago