Chadian military strikes kill dozens of fishermen in lake Chad
Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following three days of airstrikes by Chadian forces against jihadists in the Lake Chad region. Witnesses, including members of an anti-jihadist vigilante group, reported the incident on May 10.
«It remains challenging to determine the exact death toll as the operation is still ongoing», explained a local source under anonymity.
According to the witness, Chadian fighter jets have been bombing islands in Lake Chad controlled by Boko Haram since Friday. This follows a May 4 attack on a Chadian military base by the extremist group, which resulted in at least 24 soldier deaths and several injuries.
40 missing fishermen presumed dead
The airstrikes reportedly caused significant casualties among Nigerian fishermen who operated in the area with Boko Haram‘s permission. These fishermen paid a tax to the group for access to fishing zones rich in resources. The strikes targeted Shuwa Island, a remote area where the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad converge — a known stronghold of Boko Haram and a vital fishing hub attracting workers from Nigeria.
A local fishermen’s union leader stated that «40 Nigerian fishermen are missing and likely drowned following the strikes». He based his claim on accounts from survivors who escaped the attack.
«Many people lost their lives. Most of the victims of these airstrikes were from Doron Baga, a town on the Nigerian shore of Lake Chad, as well as from Taraba State», shared Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga. «It’s no secret that Nigerian fishermen pay taxes to Boko Haram to access these remote islands teeming with fish».
similar incident in 2024
The Chadian military has not yet issued any official statement regarding the incident. However, this is not the first time they have been accused of accidentally targeting civilians during operations against Boko Haram.
In October 2024, the military faced criticism for killing dozens of civilians during a retaliatory strike on Tilma Island. The attack targeted jihadists responsible for the deaths of 40 Chadian soldiers, but witnesses claimed the strikes hit fishermen by mistake. The army denied targeting innocent civilians.
The jihadist insurgency, which began in northeast Nigeria, has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced two million people, according to the United Nations. The conflict has since spread to neighboring regions in Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. Lake Chad, a vast water and wetland expanse shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has become a jihadist stronghold since 2009, hosting fighters from both Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).
In 2015, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger reactivated a joint multinational force created in 1994 to combat these groups. However, Niger withdrew from the regional force in 2025.
