Several dozen Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following three days of airstrikes by Chadian forces targeting jihadists in the northeastern region of Nigeria, specifically on Lake Chad. Local witnesses, including members of an anti-jihadist self-defense group, reported the incident on May 10.
«It remains challenging to determine the exact death toll as operations are still ongoing», a source familiar with the situation stated under anonymity.
Heavy losses among fishermen
According to the source, Chadian fighter jets have been bombing islands in Lake Chad controlled by Boko Haram near the Chadian border since Friday. This follows an attack on May 4 against Chadian military forces, which resulted in at least 24 soldiers killed and several injured.
The bombardments have reportedly caused significant casualties among Nigerian fishermen who operate in the area with Boko Haram’s permission, after paying a tax. These fishermen often hail from the Nigerian city of Doron Baga and the state of Taraba. The strikes targeted Shuwa Island, a remote area where the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad converge. Shuwa is a known stronghold of Boko Haram and a major fishing hub attracting workers from across the region.
40 fishermen reported missing
A local fishermen’s union leader claimed that «40 Nigerian fishermen are missing and likely drowned following these airstrikes». This statement is based on accounts from survivors who managed to escape the area.
«Many people have been killed. Most of the victims of these airstrikes are from Doron Baga, a Nigerian town on the shores of Lake Chad, as well as from Taraba State», testified Adamu Haladu, a fisherman originally from Baga. He added, «It’s no secret that Nigerian fishermen pay taxes to Boko Haram to access these remote islands abundant in fish».
Chadian military strikes raise concerns
The Chadian army has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, this is not the first time the military has faced accusations of inadvertently targeting civilians during operations against Boko Haram.
In October 2024, Chadian forces were criticized for killing dozens of civilians during a retaliatory strike on Tilma Island targeting Boko Haram fighters. The attack followed the killing of 40 Chadian soldiers by jihadists, though witnesses claimed the strikes mistakenly hit fishermen. The Chadian military denied targeting innocent civilians.
The jihadist insurgency has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced two million people in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, according to the United Nations. The conflict has since spread to neighboring regions in Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The vast wetlands of Lake Chad, spanning the borders of these four countries, have become a major jihadist stronghold, hosting fighters from both Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).
In 2015, to combat these groups, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger reactivated the Multinational Joint Task Force, originally formed in 1994. However, Niger withdrew from the coalition in 2025.