when we came into office, boko haram occupied how many local governments in borno state? today they are restricted. should they have been wiped out? yeah. we work with the security forces to try to rescue the students. they are doing their best, but they can do better. the resources available to them can be improved, definitely. criminal gangs are not only targeting schools. they also regularly abduct civilians travelling by road. some think that negotiation is the only way to end the the kidnapping pandemic sweeping rural areas. villages have been raided and the death toll is rising. according to the international crisis group, many but not all of these gangs are made up of members of the semi nomadic fulani ethnic group. traditionally they made their living from cattle rearing but climate change and competition for resources has left many of them without an income. controversial islamic cleric ahmad gumi has made acted as a self—appointed mediator between groups of kidnappers and the government but the sheikh says the marginalisation of the nigeria's fulani population

when we came into office, boko haram occupied how many local governments in borno state? today, they are restricted to an enclave. should they have been wiped out? yeah. we work with the security forces to try to rescue the students. they are doing their best, but they can do better. the resources available to them can be improved, definitely. criminal gangs are not only targeting schools. they also regularly abduct civilians travelling by road. some think that negotiation is the only way to end the kidnapping pandemic sweeping rural areas. villages have been raided, and the death toll is rising. according to the international crisis group, many but not all of these gangs are made up of members of the semi—nomadic fulani ethnic group. traditionally they made their living from cattle—rearing, but climate change and competition for resources has left many of them without an income. controversial islamic cleric ahmad gumi has made acted as a self—appointed mediator between groups of kidnappers and the government, but gumi says the marginalisation of the nigeria's fulan

as the fighting between boko haram and the nigerian military escalated, zannah opened his arms wider, welcoming all orphans no matter their family's side in the conflict. today he educates more than 860 orphans. he provides boys and girls uniforms, books, health care, and manages acres of farmland to teach skills and feed them. in a region overcome with atrocities, he and his schools are the lamp post of hope, lighting the way for a new generation empowered with knowledge and respect and the tools to promote peace. >> we have children who don't even know their second name. their tribe, children who are not even part of the war. you have to give them courage. you give them hope. we don't mind where you are from, what is your ethnicity. gender does not matter. you find two of the population in this school are girls. how do we heal. how do we come together? that is where we are accepted. i am a peace builder. they see themselves as being friends, brothers. there is much counseling. there is much play >> i feel i have lost something being an orphan. the first thing they did was give me th

. >> reporter: the situation in niger has become increasingly dangerous in recent years as boko haram, the islamic fundamentalists, have broadened their terror campaign through the sahara. the impoverished nation not only threatened by terrorism, but now seeing increased military presence as counter-insurgency efforts expand throughout the country. do you worry that if you get too political, that there would be a negative response towards your music and art? >> africa is starting to be very, very crazy, and that is so scary for all the artists, not just me. i'm scary, too, for my family. scary for everyone, not just me. >> reporter: does being in the world as you are in the world playing, do you feel more internal peace or less internal peace? >> to be honest, i started to be crazy, man. i don't know what i am. i don't know where i'm going to go. i don't know who i am. when i am with my crowd, i play for them. make them smile. i'm happy. i feel free. but when i'm thinking for my continent, africa, what happening in africa, what is going on? and then the world doesn't matter. i feel li

as the fighting between boko haram and the nigerian military escalated, owned his arms wider welcoming all orphans no matter their family's side in the conflict. today, he educates more than 860 orphans. he provides boys and girls uniforms, books, health care and managing acres of farmland to teach skills and feed them. in a region overcome with atrocities, he and his schools are the lamp posts of hope, lighting the way for a new generation empowered with knowledge and respect and the tools to promote peace. >> children who do not know what the name . >> i feel i have lost something. the first thing that he did to give me that, the confidence to feel i can have a say. >> if you can be the leaders of tomorrow, you have to lead by example now. [ applause ] >> please join me in honoring cnn hero zannah mustapha. [ applause ] >> it is with dear pride and abiding sense of humility that i wish to accept this award. to my nine wonderful co-honorees, i adore your courage. your work towards peace. this love and kindness fill the whole of humanity. finally, i thank the future progress. may god b