German photographer shares portraits of women and their children who fled Boko Haram

German photographer, Andy Spyra, who came into Nigeria to follow up a report on Boko Haram activities in Nigeria, took portraits of 15 women who escaped from Boko Haram captivity and also raised funds for them to start up businesses in their community.

Narrating his experience to CNN, Andy said he got into Nigeria in January this year and designed a makeshift studio with black clothes, rags and a small stool where he took these portraits and also have the women narrate their experiences to him.


He said

"We heard stories of dead bodies and mass graves, the others in the forest of people who didn't make it. There were snakes and scorpions, rivers that you had to cross where thousands of women have died in their attempt to flee. These women are really strong and really tough, and how they did it, I don't know. In some cases, they escaped during bombardment of Boko Haram-held villages. Some of them scaled fences. Some of them had smart ideas about saying they were going to the market, and they just ran off".

More photos...