Seven Boko Haram militants killed in Nigeria

At least seven Boko Haram militants were killed in the latest clampdown against the group in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, the military said here Tuesday.

Vehicles, explosives and weapons were also recovered when security forces raided a camp of the insurgents in Bama, a town where attacks have been on the rise in recent months, Xinhua quoted army spokesperson Mohammed Dole as saying.

He said several members of the group were also injured in the successful raid launched Monday.

Authorities Monday confirmed that a total of 40 people were killed in attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants on two villages of the northern state.

The military has stepped up fight against the extremists, killing 95 members of the sect in Yobe and Borno states more than a week ago.

The Boko Haram sect poses the biggest security threat in the west African country. Hundreds of people have been killed since it launched the insurgency in 2009. It seeks to enshrine the Islamic sharia law into the constitution and declares war against the Western education.