The Chadian military has launched a series of aerial strikes over the past three days targeting several islands in the Lake Chad region, located within Nigerian territory and reportedly used as strongholds by Boko Haram militants. These operations follow a recent armed assault by the group on Chadian military positions, prompting the retaliatory action.

Local witnesses, including members of an anti-jihadist self-defense group, report that dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following the bombardment. The vast, marshy expanse of Lake Chad, shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has been a hotspot for jihadist activity since 2009, hosting both Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) affiliates.

«It’s challenging to determine the exact death toll as operations are still underway,» shared an anonymous member of the anti-jihadist group. The strikes, carried out by Chadian fighter jets since Friday, targeted islands in the Lake Chad basin belonging to Niger but controlled by Boko Haram, near the Chadian border. This response comes after Boko Haram’s recent attack on Chadian military outposts.

«The bombings resulted in significant casualties among Nigerian fishermen who had been operating in the area with Boko Haram’s permission, after paying a ‘tax’ to access the zone,» the source explained. «The strikes focused on the remote Shuwa Island, where the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad converge. Shuwa serves as a Boko Haram stronghold and a thriving fishing hub that draws fishermen from across Nigeria.»

over 40 fishermen missing after strikes

Meanwhile, a representative from the Lake Chad Fishermen’s Union disclosed that «at least 40 Nigerian fishermen are missing and presumed drowned following the airstrikes, based on accounts from survivors.» «Many lives have been lost. Most victims were from Doron Baga, a fishing town on the Nigerian shores of the lake, as well as from Taraba State,» recounted Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga, Nigeria. «It’s no secret that Nigerian fishermen pay fees to Boko Haram to access these fish-rich, isolated islands,» he added. The Chadian military has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

This is not the first time the Chadian army has faced criticism for targeting Nigerian fishermen during operations against Boko Haram. In October 2024, the military was accused of killing dozens of fishermen in a retaliatory strike on Tilma Island after Boko Haram militants had killed 40 Chadian soldiers. While the military denied targeting civilians, witnesses maintained that the strikes inadvertently hit fishing communities.

Boko Haram’s insurgency, which has engulfed Nigeria’s northeastern region—the continent’s most populous country—has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and displaced nearly two million people, according to UN figures. The conflict has since spilled into neighboring Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. In 2015, the four nations reactivated the Multinational Joint Task Force, originally formed in 1994, to combat jihadist groups around Lake Chad. However, Niger withdrew from the coalition in 2025 amid escalating regional tensions that have weakened the fight against insurgency.