regional forces push boko haram jihadists to retreat on lake Chad

Military operations across the Lake Chad basin have forced jihadists from the Boko Haram group to abandon their strongholds following a coordinated regional offensive. The campaign, involving airstrikes and ground assaults, has seen forces from Chad, Nigeria and Niger join forces to dismantle the insurgents’ presence.

regional coalition intensifies strikes on boko haram hideouts

Since Friday, Chadian air forces have conducted precision airstrikes targeting Boko Haram positions on remote islands scattered across the Lake Chad region. This vast wetland, shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, has long served as a critical base for the group, which coexists alongside the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Tragically, the offensive has also claimed the lives of dozens of Nigerian fishermen working on islands under Boko Haram control. These fishermen were reportedly paying jizya—a tax imposed by the jihadist group—when the strikes occurred. Graphic videos, verified by local sources, show severely burned survivors receiving treatment at a hospital in Bosso, Niger.

jihadists flee as regional troops advance

Local fishermen, including Suleiman Hassan, who recently fled to Maiduguri—the capital of Borno State—reported that Boko Haram militants are abandoning their camps on several islands near the Shuwa border area, which spans Nigeria, Niger and Chad.

Hassan described the exodus: «Under relentless bombardment, Boko Haram fighters are evacuating their hideouts with their families aboard small canoes. Islands like Dogon Chukwu, Kangarwa, Gashakar, Yawan Mango and Kwatar Mota have become untenable.»

chadian forces engage jihadists in fierce clashes

Chadian troops have engaged Boko Haram militants directly on Kaukeri Island, a key stronghold for the group within the lake. The operation is seen as a direct response to recent deadly attacks by Boko Haram on Chadian military positions.

Last week, Chad declared three days of national mourning following an ambush that killed two high-ranking generals. Days earlier, an attack on a military base along the lake’s shores resulted in at least 24 Chadian soldier deaths.

Nigeria and Niger join coordinated air campaign

According to intelligence sources, Nigeria and Niger are actively participating in the aerial campaign. A confidential source from Nigeria’s intelligence community stated: «The airstrikes are a tri-national effort, with each country deploying two fighter jets. The coordination aims to cripple Boko Haram’s operational capacity and force them into retreat.»

The source added that jihadist fighters and their families are now trapped along the lake’s shores, reluctant to move toward ISWAP-controlled areas—a rival faction that split from Boko Haram in 2016.

years of insurgency leave deep scars across the region

The jihadist insurgency, which began in Nigeria’s northeast, has left thousands dead and displaced millions across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The violence has prompted neighboring nations to reactivate the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)—a regional security alliance established in 1994 to combat cross-border threats.

The current offensive underscores the growing regional resolve to dismantle Boko Haram’s influence and restore stability to the Lake Chad basin, a vital economic and ecological zone.