At least 14 members of the Nigerien Defence and Security Forces were killed in a coordinated terrorist attack and subsequent ambush in N’Guigmi, Diffa Region, southeastern Niger, on Friday morning.

Security expert Zagazola Makama disclosed this in a report posted on his official X handle.

He said the attack occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on July 31, when heavily armed assailants approached the town from the Sabon Carré neighbourhood, southwest of N’Guigmi, and launched an assault on a National Guard position located near the town’s cemetery.

According to sources, the initial attack prompted a military response as reinforcements moved to pursue the fleeing attackers.

However, the responding troops reportedly ran into a well-prepared ambush about one kilometre south of the National Guard position, resulting in heavy casualties.

Preliminary reports indicate that 14 security personnel were killed, comprising 10 soldiers of the Niger Armed Forces (FAN), including one officer, and four members of the National Guard.

The wife and son of a senior ISWAP commander who recently surrendered to the military have also turned themselves in to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State.

This was disclosed in a statement posted by security expert, Zagazola Makama, on X.

Zagazola stated that Aisha Musa, 27, surrendered alongside her 11-year-old son to troops of the 3 Battalion (Main) through Kusuma Village at about 3:42 p.m. on July 29.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that her husband, described as a high-profile ISWAP member who served as the group’s chief finance officer in the Jubillaram enclave, had instructed her to leave the enclave with their son if he successfully escaped.

Recall that the husband had earlier surrendered to troops on July 25, 2026, prompting the woman and her child to follow his directive and seek refuge with the military.

The security expert noted that both individuals were searched and screened in accordance with established procedures for persons leaving insurgent-controlled areas.

“They have since been placed in the custody of the 24 Task Force Brigade for onward movement to the Headquarters of the 7 Division for further profiling and administrative processing.

“The latest surrender is seen as part of the growing number of defections and family members leaving insurgent enclaves as sustained military pressure under Operation HADIN KAI continues to degrade Boko Haram and ISWAP strongholds across the North-East.

“The general security situation across the theatre remains relatively calm but unpredictable, while troops continue offensive operations against terrorist elements with high morale and operational readiness,” he said.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, has secured the conviction and sentence of two Chinese Zhang Hong Lin and Gao Pei Hai, before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for conspiracy and the illegal mining of solid minerals.

The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession of mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.

The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their guilty pleas,  prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa called the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.

After presenting the evidence, Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in line with the charges.

In his judgment, Justice Aluko found both defendants guilty on all five counts and sentenced each of them to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N50 million fine covering all five counts.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered mineral resources to the Federal Government of Nigeria.