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Soldiers from the Asa Military Base of 14 Brigade, Ohafia Barracks, Abia State, Sunday arrested 486 suspected insurgents including eight girls. The arrest was made same day bombs were uncovered and defused in a church in neighbouring Imo State.

The suspected insurgents were said to be going to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital in search of work.

The suspects were arrested at about 2 am when their vehicles were intercepted by soldiers between Arungwa Junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and Imo Gate, the Abia State and Rivers State boundary.

They were said to be moving in a convoy of 35 Hummer buses when they were intercepted. However, two of the buses were said to have escaped arrest.

According to Abia State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, who briefed journalists yesterday at the military base in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state, where they were being detained, the suspects are aged from 1