Lagos, April 11 (IANS): Nigerian troops in the oil rich city of Port Harcourt on Saturday said they have arrested six suspected terrorists and recovered arms and ammunition from them after soldiers raided their hideout.

The suspects were arrested after a prolonged exchange of gunfire, Xinhua news agency cited Brig. Gen. Koko Essien, the commander of 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, as telling reporters in Port Harcourt.

The raid was part of efforts to make the environment safe for people to go out and vote for the governorship and assembly polls on Saturday, the military chief said, noting that one suspect, who fled the scene of the shootout with multiple gunshot wounds would soon be apprehended as the soldiers were on his trail.

According to him, the military will stop at nothing to make sure that the streets, city, hinterlands and waterways are protected to enable people to go out and vote for the candidates of their choice.