lake Chad airstrikes: dozens of nigerian fishermen missing after chadian military operations
The Chadian Armed Forces have launched a series of aerial strikes over the past three days targeting several islands in Lake Chad, located within Nigerian territory, which authorities claim serve as strongholds for the militant group Boko Haram. These military actions follow a recent assault by the armed group on Chadian military positions.
Witnesses, including members of an anti-jihadist self-defense group, report that dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following the airstrikes. The vast Lake Chad region, spanning the borders of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has become a hotspot for extremist activity since 2009, hosting both Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).
escalating violence and civilian casualties
According to a spokesperson for the Lake Chad Fishermen’s Union, at least 40 fishermen are reported missing and presumed drowned as a result of the strikes. Survivors fleeing the area have provided harrowing accounts of the incident. Many of the victims hailed from Doron Baga, a lakeside town in Borno State, Nigeria, as well as from Taraba State.
«We all know that fishermen pay a so-called ‘tax’ to Boko Haram just to access these remote, fish-rich islands,» revealed Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga. This practice has long been documented in the region, where extremist groups impose levies on local communities in exchange for permission to fish and trade.
The Chadian Armed Forces have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident or potential civilian casualties.
historical context and recurring tragedies
This is not the first time the Chadian military has faced accusations of inadvertently targeting civilians while conducting counter-terrorism operations. In October 2024, the army was widely criticized for airstrikes on Tilma Island in Lake Chad, which were meant to retaliate against Boko Haram following the deaths of 40 soldiers. However, survivors reported that the strikes instead killed dozens of fishermen. The military denied claims of civilian casualties at the time.
regional security and the humanitarian crisis
The Boko Haram insurgency, which began in Nigeria in 2009, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and displaced more than two million people across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, according to United Nations data. The violence has spread to neighboring countries, intensifying the regional security crisis.
In 2015, the governments of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger reactivated the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)—a regional security alliance established in 1994—to combat extremist threats around Lake Chad. However, Niger withdrew from the coalition in 2025, citing strained relations and undermining collective efforts against terrorism.
