Livestock Theft Is Central To Jihadist Economy In West Africa

Livestock is a major source of income in the Sahel region (Credit: AFP)

Musa was asleep in the village of Dusuman in northeast Nigeria when he was awoken by a sharp burst of gunfire and Boko Haram stole his main source of livelihood -- his livestock.

"They came at about one in the morning and started firing in the air," said the Fulani herdsman, whose name AFP has changed for security reasons.