Al-Shabaab intelligence chief arrested.

"Local forces in the south of Mudug region have today arrested a man who is said to be the head of Khawaja intelligence, named Farhaan Shalaange. This man said that he was a surveyor for Khawaja, and he was arrested on the outskirts of Bacaadweyne," the press release said.

The forces that carried out the operation to arrest this man were led by an officer named Gurey Nur, the commander of the militia in the Ba'adweyne area.

The forces also thanked the residents who said they shared the information about the arrest of the key Al-Shabaab officer.

"The residents supported the army in arresting this man who was working on collecting information about the army operating in these areas," the statement said.

Meanwhile, there is no word from Al-Shabaab regarding the issue of the officer who was handed over to the local forces today.

In recent days, heavy operations against Al-Shabaab have been taking place in many areas in the central regions of the state of Galka'ayo.

Since the beginning of the fighting to liberate the country from Al-Shabaab, more and more militias have come under the control of the Somali federal government.