Minority Christians in the north Nigerian town of Damatura are fleeing to the south of the country after being told to get out by militant Islamists.
They have been given three days by the Boko Haram group to leave after Nigeria’s president said he was sending in government troops to root out the insurgents.
Damatura which has been a flashpoint of Boko Haram attacks has become deserted as people stayed away to avoid being caught up in the military build-up.
Nigeria is divided by the mainly Christian community in the south and the Muslim north.
President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in some northern regions as Boko Haram attacks spread southwards. In a series of Christmas Day bombings more than forty people were killed including 37 worshippers at a church near the capital Abuja.
Jonathan has told his chief of staff to take appropriate anti-terrorist measures.