JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The bodies of nine civilians abducted by the Islamic State (IS) group from Kot district of the eastern Nangarhar province 18 months ago have been found, spokesman for provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said Monday.

"The terrorist group abducted a dozen people including tribal elders from Seh Paye area of Kot district 18 months ago but the bodies of nine of the victims buried in a mass grave in Momandara area of Achin district were found very recently," Khogiani told reporters here.

However, some sources believe that 12 bodies were discovered from a mass grave in Momandara area, once controlled by IS militants.

Militants loyal to the hardliner Islamic State, according to the local officials and villagers had brutally killed and kidnapped the locals, besides destroying residential houses during their brief capture of villages in Kot, Achin and other areas of Nangarhar province over the past nearly two years.