Somali National Army (SNA)'s Division 11th commander Mohamed Hassan Badal said the arrests were made after the forces got reliable intelligence on the militants' presence on the road outside of Kismayo city.

"The militants sneaked in a public bus en route to the city and our forces intercepted them. We detained three militants and confiscated explosive materials in their possession," Badal said.

The army man added the captured militants are now in government prison set for militants in Kismayo town.

On July 12 , the militants carried out a terrorist attack at a hotel in Kismayo town killing at least 26 people including foreign nationals and injured 56 others.

The Somali government has vowed to avenge the killings and has so far conducted a series of operations in the Lower Juba region.