The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) arrested 12 suspected Al-Shabaab militants in the regional state of Southwest this week.
They were arrested by officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
NISA arrested them following a military operation carried out in Baidoa and the surrounding regions.
Those arrested in the operation included bomb throwers and suspected assassins.
Militants responsible for extorting funds from members of public were among those arrested in the operations too.
Their arrest took place simultaneously with the reported defection of a top Al-Shabaab militant known as Sidow Ali Ibrahim alias Anas.
Anas defected surrendered to the military in Harardhere.
