Military strikes in Chad kill dozens of fishermen in lake Chad region

tchadian military strikes on jihadist targets result in tragic civilian casualties

Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following three days of aerial strikes by Chadian armed forces against jihadist groups in the Lake Chad region, according to local witnesses and anti-terrorism vigilantes. The operation, which began on Friday, targeted Boko Haram-controlled islands near the Chadian border following a deadly attack on a Chadian military base.

«Casualty figures remain unclear as the operation is still ongoing», a source familiar with the situation told our team on condition of anonymity.

fishermen caught in crossfire of military operation

Chadian fighter jets have been bombing islands in Lake Chad since Friday, hitting areas under Boko Haram control. The strikes come in response to an attack by the terrorist group on May 4 that left at least 24 Chadian soldiers dead and several others wounded.

According to a local source, the bombardments have inflicted heavy losses on Nigerian fishermen operating in the area with Boko Haram’s permission. «The strikes targeted Shuwa Island», noted the source, «where the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad converge. Shuwa serves as both a Boko Haram stronghold and a major fishing hub attracting Nigerian fishermen».

40 fishermen reported missing after air raids

A fishermen’s union representative reported that «40 Nigerian fishermen are missing and likely drowned following the strikes». The claim is based on testimonies from survivors who managed to escape the area.

Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga, Nigeria, shared his account: «Many people were killed. Most victims came from Doron Baga on the Nigerian shores of the lake, as well as from Taraba State». He added that «it’s common knowledge that Nigerian fishermen pay taxes to Boko Haram to access these remote islands rich in fish».

history of accidental civilian casualties in anti-jihadist operations

The Chadian military has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. This is not the first time Chadian forces have faced accusations of striking civilians while targeting Boko Haram militants.

In October 2024, Chadian authorities were criticized for a retaliatory strike on Tilma Island that killed dozens of civilians. While the attack targeted Boko Haram fighters responsible for the deaths of 40 Chadian soldiers, witnesses claimed the bombs hit fishermen by mistake. The Chadian army denied targeting innocent civilians.

ongoing insurgency fuels regional instability

The jihadist insurgency has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced two million people in Nigeria’s northeast, according to United Nations estimates. The conflict has spread in recent years to neighboring Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. Lake Chad, a vast water and marshland region spanning Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has become a hotspot for Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) since 2009.

In 2015, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger reactivated a multinational joint task force created in 1994 to combat these groups. Niger withdrew from the regional force in 2025.