Fleeing Boko Haram

Fleeing Boko Haram

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A five-year-long campaign by Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which it says is a bid to revive northern Nigeria’s medieval Muslim empires, has become one of the deadliest in the world, with around 10,000 people killed last year.

Hundreds, mostly women and children, have been kidnapped and over 3 million people, among them the girl pictured above resting her head, are internally displaced.

. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Unlike its Middle East counterparts wooing locals with a semblance of administration, villagers trapped by Boko Haram face food shortages, slavery, killing and a lock down on economic activity, those who escaped say.

"(They) have no form of government," said Phineas Elisha, government spokesman for Adamawa state where the camp for internally displaced people, pictured above, is located.

. Yola, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

But while in Syria, after initially brutal takeovers, Islamic State has tried to win over communities, those who escaped Boko Haram say the rebels do little for them beyond forcing them to adopt their brand of Islam on pain of death.

"They provide raw rice to cook, the rice that they stole from the shops. They provide a kettle and ... scarves to cover up the women," said Maryam Peter from Pambla village.

A government-run camp in a former school is now Maryam’s home, along with 1,000 others, where mothers cook on outdoor fires while children run around.

. yola, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Some 1.5 million people have been rendered homeless by the war, Oxfam says.

Among them is a young boy, pictured above, who fled Boko Haram violence in Mubi town, a northeast region of Nigeria and whose right foot heel was chopped off in an accident.

The army recaptured Mubi in November and Aliyu Maikano, a Red Cross official, said those still alive "were starved for food, water, almost everything there. There's no drinking water because (in) most of the wells there you'll find dead bodies.”

. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Slowly, with the help of traditional hunters armed with home made guns and a reputation for magic powers, government forces have pushed Boko Haram out of some of its southern possessions.

Morris Enoch, pictured above, a leader of the hunters, says they found an arsenal of military weapons: rocket launchers, machine guns, dynamite, anti-aircraft guns and grenades.

The rebels rarely leave behind much else.

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Slideshow

A leader of militia hunters helping the army to fight the Boko Haram insurgence in the northeast region of Nigeria, holds a magazine of bullets in his hands.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

A leader of militia hunters helping the army to fight the Boko Haram insurgence in the northeast region of Nigeria, holds a magazine of bullets in his hands.

Militia hunters helping the army to fight the Boko Haram insurgence pose for a picture.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Militia hunters helping the army to fight the Boko Haram insurgence pose for a picture.

Men who fled the Boko Haram violence in the northeast region of Nigeria sit in a row as they listen to news on the radio at Maikohi secondary school internally displaced persons camp.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Men who fled the Boko Haram violence in the northeast region of Nigeria sit in a row as they listen to news on the radio at Maikohi secondary school internally displaced persons camp.

A man displaced as a result of Boko Haram attacks helps his son do up the buttons on his shirt.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

A man displaced as a result of Boko Haram attacks helps his son do up the buttons on his shirt.

Children take part in aerobic exercises at Maikohi secondary school at the camp for internally displaced people.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Children take part in aerobic exercises at Maikohi secondary school at the camp for internally displaced people.

Children displaced as a result of Boko Haram attack attend a class at Maikohi secondary school.
. Yola, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Children displaced as a result of Boko Haram attack attend a class at Maikohi secondary school.

Displaced people collect water at a water point at Maikohi secondary school.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Displaced people collect water at a water point at Maikohi secondary school.

Children run at a camp.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Children run at a camp.

Children cheer at a camp.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Children cheer at a camp.

A girl uses a mortar and pestle.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

A girl uses a mortar and pestle.

Children sell sundry goods.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Children sell sundry goods.

Baby Lurky, whose family was displaced sleeps in the shade.
. YOLA, Nigeria. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Baby Lurky, whose family was displaced sleeps in the shade.