(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81101000/png/_81101967_nigeria_lagos_maiduguri464.png) He says it is very difficult to tell the militants from soldiers, as they dress in camouflage - with only their eyes visible.
"They stole some food, killed my two brothers and burned our house in Maiduguri in January 2013," he says.
"There's only my mother and my sister now."
He says he had wanted to go and study science, but he is unable to afford to continue his education.
'Scared' "Many of the drivers have good qualifications," says Umar Hussaini, 18, a motor boy who helps his driver brother.
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81102000/jpg/_81102802_img_0122.jpg) Ibrahim Abdullahi studied civil engineering but can only find work as a trucker He introduces me to Ibrahim Abdullahi, 25, a former university student who had been studying civil engineering at the start of insurgency.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.theinfostride.com/forum/#story_continues_3) “Start Quote (http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81103000/jpg/_81103389_img_0140.jpg)
President Jonathan is just as guilty as those Boko Haram killers because he has chopped off all the money to repair the roads,”
End Quote Atiku Abubakar Trucker He has been working as a trucker for the last five years as there are few other employment opportunities for young men, especially in the areas affected by the conflict.
"Yes I am scared, if there was other work I would find another job," says Mr Abdullahi.
All the truckers express anger about the six-week postponement of the 14 February presidential election and are vocal in their criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan's handling of the conflict.
Some even refer to him as "the chairman of Boko Haram" - seeing him as complicit in the group's growth over the years.
Others say his complicity lies in his neglect of north-east.
"President Jonathan is just as guilty as those Boko Haram killers because he has chopped off all the money to repair the roads," Mr Abubakar says.
Life is now a constant financial struggle for them, he adds.
For each trip, a driver gets a 10,000 naira ($50, £33) living allowance but this might have to last for several weeks as he waits at Ogbere Trailer Park for clearance to go into Lagos port to collect cargo.
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81103000/jpg/_81103392_img_0147.jpg) It costs 500 naira ($2.50) for the trucks to stay at Ogbere Trailer Park for two weeks (http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81103000/jpg/_81103394_img_0129.jpg) To stay in Lagos it could cost 1,000 naira a night - and vehicles would a target for thieves (http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/81102000/jpg/_81102800_img_0155.jpg) The truckers sleep outdoors in areas organised by state - and there are mosques in some sections Most of the truckers get a monthly salary of between $100 and $200 and the motor boys receive $2.50 a day.
Saleh Mohamed, a driver who has just arrived back from Lagos port with his shipment of petrol, sits down with the group under the porch looking exhausted.
"I spent four days in the queue in the traffic to the port - I haven't slept for four nights because I had to watch out for thieves as they remove parts from the vehicle or steal the gas," he says.
But he is only taking a short break of a couple of hours as he is anxious to put the coming dangers behind him.
"The killings are too much and have been going on for too long," says his colleague Mr Abubakar.
"President Jonathan is not doing anything. We hope he will leave - we want change."
Source: BBC