Tchad strikes on lake Chad leave nigerian fishermen missing

The Chadian military has launched a series of aerial strikes over the past few days targeting insurgent strongholds on islands within Nigerian territory of Lake Chad. These operations follow a recent attack by Boko Haram against Chadian military positions. Authorities report that dozens of Nigerian fishermen are believed to be missing or deceased following the strikes.

why the strikes targeted these lake islands

Since Friday, Chadian fighter jets have conducted precision airstrikes on several islands in Lake Chad, located in Niger and identified as Boko Haram operational bases. This military response comes in retaliation for a premeditated assault carried out by the armed group on Chadian military outposts.

fishermen caught in the crossfire

Local witnesses, including members of anti-jihadist self-defense groups, report that the airstrikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties. The targeted zone, an area known for abundant fisheries, attracts Nigerian fishermen who pay levies to Boko Haram for access. According to a spokesperson from the Lake Chad Fishermen’s Union, at least 40 fishermen from Nigeria—primarily from communities along the lake’s shores in Borno State and Taraba State—are missing and presumed drowned. Many survivors have described harrowing scenes, with entire fishing teams lost to the strikes.

Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga, a town on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad, stated: “It’s no secret that we pay taxes to Boko Haram just to fish on these islands. The bombs don’t distinguish between fighters and civilians.”

repeated civilian impact in anti-terror operations

This isn’t the first instance where Chadian airstrikes have resulted in unintended civilian harm. In October 2024, a similar operation on Tilma Island, also on Lake Chad, led to the deaths of dozens of Nigerian fishermen during an attempt to retaliate against Boko Haram for the killing of 40 Chadian soldiers. While authorities denied targeting non-combatants, eyewitness accounts contradicted those claims.

the humanitarian toll of insurgency around lake Chad

The Lake Chad basin has become a focal point of the decade-long insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Since 2009, this once-peaceful region has seen over 40,000 fatalities and displaced more than two million people, primarily in Nigeria’s northeast. The violence has spilled across borders into Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, destabilizing communities and crippling local economies dependent on fishing and trade.

In response to the growing threat, in 2015, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger reactivated the Multinational Joint Task Force, originally established in 1994. However, regional cooperation has weakened in recent years due to rising tensions between member states, culminating in Niger withdrawing from the alliance in 2025. This fragmentation has further complicated efforts to curb the insurgency and protect civilian lives.