 According to al-Tabari, Ahmad arrived at Tarsus on 4 October 891 and took part in the summer expedition ("ṣā’ifa") against the Byzantine border fortress of Salandu (Selinus/Traianopolis), where Yazaman was mortally wounded, dying on the next day (23 October).According to Ibn al-Athir, "Ibn Ujayf" (Ahmad) succeeded Yazaman as governor of Tarsus and was confirmed by Khumarawayh, although a certain Ibn Abi Isa, who was also a commander in the expedition against Salandu, may have held the post briefly as an interim governor.Soon after, however, he was replaced as governor of Tarsus by Muhammad ibn Musa al-A'raj.