Bombardments targeting Boko Haram bastions
Since Friday, Chadian fighter jets have been targeting islands in Lake Chad under the control of Boko Haram, situated near the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad. According to a member of an anti-jihadist self-defense group, these military actions were initiated following a recent attack by Boko Haram on the Chadian army. The strikes reportedly hit Shuwa island, which is described as a jihadist stronghold and a significant fishing hub frequented by Nigerian fishermen.
Fishermen caught in the crossfire
An official from a Lake Chad fishermen’s union stated that at least 40 Nigerian fishermen are missing and are believed to have drowned during the bombings. “Many people were killed,” confirmed Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga in northeastern Nigeria. He indicated that most of the victims were from the town of Doron Baga and Nigeria’s Taraba State. Witnesses explained that the fishermen were permitted to enter these fish-rich zones after paying a tax levied by Boko Haram.
A region undermined by insecurity
Lake Chad, which is shared by Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has served as a sanctuary for the jihadist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over fifteen years. To counter this threat, the bordering nations revived a multinational joint task force in 2015. However, regional cooperation has weakened in recent years, particularly after Niger withdrew from this alliance in 2025. The Chadian military has not yet officially responded to these allegations.
