The joint military task force operating in the volatile Niger Delta region of Nigeria today recorded a major progress when it paraded 11 suspected militants and four pirates arrested in different parts of the state before newsmen.

Briefing reporters in Port Harcourt, spokesman of the task force, Maj. Sagir Musa, said the suspects were arrested at Obele, Owelewele and Rumuekpe communities in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Musa said the task force had acted on an intelligence report about the suspects' activities.

According to him, the JTF also recovered a locally made revolver pistol, three single barreled guns, three cartridges and two 7.62 mm special bullets during the operation.

Violence has escalated in the oil-rich region in the last few months where rebels have made several million dollars in ransom from abduction of foreign oil workers.