Barely three days after the Joint Military Task Force freed 19 hostages from militants in the Niger Delta, the Nigerian Army has arrested the militant gang leader and more than 50 of his followers believed to be behind the kidnapping.

The hostages, two Americans, two Frenchmen, two Indonesians, one Canadian and 12 Nigerians, were freed late on Wednesday after being held at a camp in rivers state.

Spokesman for the military taskforce in the Niger Delta Lt. Col Timothy Antigha said obese is being detained with 50 of his followers after a shootout near bonny in rivers.

The armed forces have also taken over several militant camps in the Niger Delta, threatening to carry out more raids to flush out gang members.