ABUJA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Government forces in Nigeria have uncovered shallow graves in which bodies of terror group Boko Haram fighters, who escaped with gun wounds during an encounter with troops in the northeast region early this month, were buried, a military spokesman said on Monday.
Army spokesman Sani Usman, in a statement reaching Xinhua in Abuja, said government forces uncovered the graves while on patrol of Baga, Kangarwa and Dogonchikun areas of the northeastern state of Borno with a view to intercepting fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.
Most of the terrorists died after a gun fight with troops on Jan. 13, Usman said.
According to him, at least 36 hand grenades concealed by the terrorists were also uncovered during military operation.
Boko Haram has been responsible for the killing of more than 20,000 people and displacement of 2.3 million residents since the current insurgency started in 2009.
Nigeria has made considerable gain on the Boko Haram front, with its security forces operating in the restive region dislodging the Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest, their last enclave in the country.
