ZAMBOANGA CITY – A Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group leader involved in the bombing of a university in December 2023 was killed while two followers were captured in two separate clashes in Lanao del Sur, the military said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Yasser Bara, 1101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the separate clashes happened early Saturday in Barangay Padas, Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur. A soldier later died while on the way to a hospital.

Bara said the troops of the 1101st Infantry Brigade were on security patrol when they clashed with armed men in two separate occasions early morning Saturday.

Bara said the slain leader was Najib Laguindab alias Abu Jihad, who was involved on December 3, 2023 bombing at the Mindanao State University (MSU) that killed four people and injured 50 others. DMS