ABUJA, April 2 (Xinhua) — At least 18 people were killed and around 84 others wounded in Boko Haram militants' clashes with Nigeria soldiers in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, local media reported Monday, citing the state emergency agency.

"So far we have recovered 18 dead bodies from the two villages Bale Shuwa and Bale Kura," on the outskirts of Maiduguri, said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). "The victims were killed while trying to escape the fight between the insurgents and the military."