Reports from the Lake Chad region indicate that scores of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following recent aerial bombardments by the Tchad military. These strikes, which targeted jihadist hideouts in northeastern Nigeria, have been ongoing for several days according to local witnesses and members of civilian defense groups.
Establishing a precise casualty count remains challenging as military operations in the area are still active. However, sources on the ground suggest that the impact on the local fishing community has been devastating.
Dozens missing after strikes on Shuwa island
Since Friday, Tchad fighter jets have been targeting islands on Lake Chad controlled by Boko Haram. This military offensive follows a deadly encounter on May 4, where an attack on a Tchad military base resulted in the deaths of at least 24 soldiers and left many others wounded.
The aerial campaign focused heavily on Shuwa, a remote island situated where the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Tchad meet. While Shuwa serves as a strategic bastion for Boko Haram, it is also a vital fishing hub. A representative from a local fishing union stated that approximately 40 Nigerian fishermen are currently missing and are believed to have drowned as a result of the raids.
“The loss of life is significant. Many of those caught in the strikes hailed from Doron Baga and Taraba State,” explained Adamu Haladu, a fisherman originally from Baga. He noted that many fishermen pay a forced tax to Boko Haram to access these fish-rich, isolated waters.
Echoes of previous military incidents
The Tchad military has not yet issued an official statement regarding these reports. This is not the first instance where the army has faced allegations of collateral damage involving civilians during anti-terrorist operations.
In October 2024, the military was criticized after a retaliatory strike on Tilma island reportedly killed dozens of civilians. While the army maintained it was targeting the jihadists responsible for killing 40 Chadian soldiers, witnesses insisted that fishermen were the primary victims of the mistaken strike. At the time, Tchad officials denied any intentional targeting of innocent civilians.
The ongoing jihadist insurgency in the region has caused more than 40,000 deaths and displaced two million people in northeastern Nigeria. The Lake Chad basin, a vast network of water and marshes shared by Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger, and Tchad, has been a stronghold for both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) since 2009.
In an effort to stabilize the region, a Multinational Joint Task Force was reactivated in 2015. However, this regional alliance saw a significant shift when Niger chose to withdraw from the force in 2025.
