something that the security forces largely lack, and that is motivation. it's their relatives, it's their family members and neighbors who's lives are in jeopardy. and that's why they will risk everything to protect their streets. this man leads one the sector vigilante groups. >> we have suffered a lot. we have lost innocent people. >> reporter: hardened by loss, they show no mercy. not even to family. >> my senior brother son, i cut him and handed over to authorities. >> reporter: he was just 16, but he was boko haram. >> executed. >> reporter: he's been executed? >> yes. my own son. i have no regret with what we are doing. >> reporter: with the town relatively secured, they now want to hunt down boko haram in the forest. in this type of war, the best fighters aren't always the best