UN urges government action over Boko Haram displaced

Up to 10,000 civilians have been forcibly relocated because of a military operation against Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, the UN said on Thursday, calling for better protection.

At least 2,000 people were initially said to have been moved the 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Jakana to the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, on Tuesday.

But the UN said five times as many were forced to flee.

"The military ordered the immediate departure and forced the relocation of up to 10,000 civilians in the middle of the night, without prior warning," it said in a statement.

"The entire town of Jakana was emptied, and people were forced to move to Maiduguri with very little time to collect personal belongings," added UN humanitarian coordinator Edward Kallon.

"Some people said they arrived in Maiduguri with nothing, not even with shoes on their feet."