Nigeria's military has said it has made its first two arrests as a result of publishing a list of the 100 most-wanted Boko Haram suspects.

Army spokesperson Colonel Sani Usman said that two Boko Haram militants on the most wanted poster have been identified and apprehended.

On Sunday one man, Chindo Bello, was spotted and held at Abuja airport.

"Chindo Bello was apprehended by aviation security as he was boarding (an) Aero Contractors' flight to Lagos," Usman said.

Security agents were tipped off and the arrest was made "as he attempted to flee" and was then handed over to military intelligence for questioning.

Following this arrest, on Monday evening a second man, Ishaku Wardifen, a Cameroonian national and number 22 on the most wanted list, was held by troops at a checkpoint in Adamawa state, northeast state.

"As all hands are on deck to finally defeat Boko Haram terrorists in our country, today in the morning, another declared wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Ishaku Wardifen, was nabbed by vigilant troops of 23 Brigade Special Battalion at a check point in Maiha, Adamawa State.

"Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspected terrorist is a Cameroonian citizen.

"Visual matching with photographs on the poster of the 100 declared suspected Boko Haram terrorists wanted list released by the Nigerian Army last month shows that he clearly resembles the suspect on serial number 22 on the list," Usman said.

The suspect has now been handed over to military intelligence for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The "most wanted" poster, published both in English and the local, north-eastern languages of Hausa and Kanuri, appeals for public help in finding the Boko Haram suspects.

The group's leader, Abubakar Shekau, features twice on the poster to represent the government's suspicions that he in a composite character played by lookalikes.