Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have intercepted caches of illegal arms and arrested several suspected terrorists and their collaborators during coordinated operations across the North-West and North-Central regions.

The spokesman for the Defence Headquarters, Michael Onoja, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.

He added that the operations dealt a major blow to arms trafficking networks and terrorist logistics between June 19 and June 25.

Mr Onoja said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke intercepted a vehicle along the Sokoto-Kano Highway on June 21 and recovered two AK-47 rifles, nine magazines, 67 rounds of ammunition, two Beretta pistols, communication radios and camouflage jackets after the courier abandoned the vehicle and fled.

He said the interception disrupted an illegal arms supply route into the North-Central region.

According to him, in another operation along the Toto-Abaji Road in Nasarawa State, security operatives arrested a suspect found with 174 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Mr Onoja also said troops of Operation Fansan Yamma arrested four suspected terrorists in Zamfara State and foiled an attack on Gamdanda village in the Gummi Local Government Area after laying a successful ambush.

He said troops recovered AK-47 rifles, ammunition, motorcycles and food supplies during the operation.

The statement noted that three suspected terrorist collaborators were arrested during the screening of pilgrims arriving at Gusau International Airport, while another suspected terrorist was apprehended during a raid in Kano State.

In Katsina State, troops raided a bandits’ enclave in the Matazu Local Government Area, killed four suspected bandits in separate operations and recovered two PKT machine guns, linked ammunition, motorcycles and military camouflage uniforms.

The Defence Headquarters said investigations were ongoing to dismantle the criminal networks linked to the arrested suspects.