Tchad’s military strikes on Lake Tchad leave Nigerian fishermen missing
The Chadian Armed Forces have conducted aerial strikes on islands in Lake Tchad since Friday, targeting areas reportedly used by Boko Haram militants in Nigerian territory. These operations follow a recent attack by the armed group against Chadian military positions.
Impact on local fishermen
Witnesses, including members of anti-jihadist self-defense groups, report that dozens of Nigerian fishermen have been missing for three days following the airstrikes. The Lake Tchad region, spanning Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has become a hotspot for insurgent activity since 2009, hosting both Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
«It’s challenging to estimate the exact death toll as operations are still ongoing», shared an anonymous member of an anti-jihadist defense group. The strikes, carried out by Chadian fighter jets, targeted islands in the Lake Tchad basin near the Nigerian-Niger-Chad border. The assaults were in retaliation for a recent Boko Haram attack on Chadian military outposts.
Fishing communities under threat
Fishermen operating in the region, who had secured permission from Boko Haram in exchange for taxes, bore the brunt of the strikes. «The airstrikes devastated fishing communities, particularly in the remote island of Shuwa, a known stronghold of Boko Haram and a major fishing hub», explained a local fisherman.
40 Nigerian fishermen are reported missing, presumed drowned after the bombings. Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga, a town on the Nigerian side of the lake, stated: «Many lives were lost. Most victims came from Doron Baga and Taraba State». He added that paying «taxes» to Boko Haram was a necessity to access these fish-rich islands.
History of unintended civilian casualties
This isn’t the first incident where Chadian military strikes have resulted in civilian deaths. In October 2024, retaliation strikes on Tilma Island killed dozens of Nigerian fishermen after Boko Haram militants ambushed and killed 40 Chadian soldiers. The Chadian Army denied targeting civilians in that strike.
Broader context of insurgency
The jihadist insurgency has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced 2 million people in northeastern Nigeria, according to the United Nations. The violence has since spread to neighboring Niger, Cameroon, and Chad.
In 2015, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger revived the Multinational Joint Task Force to combat insurgents around Lake Tchad. However, Niger withdrew from the force in 2025 due to strained regional relations, further complicating counter-insurgency efforts.
