Nigerian fishermen vanish after Chad’s anti-terror strikes on Lake Chad
Chad’s armed forces have launched a series of aerial assaults targeting suspected Boko Haram strongholds on islands within Niger’s territorial waters of Lake Chad. The military campaign follows a recent insurgent attack on Chadian military positions near the volatile region.
The operations, initiated three days ago, have raised concerns about civilian casualties, particularly among Nigerian fishermen operating in the disputed waters. These fishermen had reportedly secured permission from Boko Haram to fish in the area, paying a levy to the terrorist group for access to the resource-rich islands.
conflicting reports emerge from the frontline
Local witnesses and anti-jihadist defense groups report that the airstrikes have resulted in significant loss of life among the fishing community. «It’s challenging to determine the exact death toll as operations remain ongoing», stated a member of an anti-jihadist vigilante group who requested anonymity. The strikes appear to have concentrated on Shuwa Island, a known Boko Haram bastion where the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad converge.
«The bombardments caused severe casualties among Nigerian fishermen who had obtained Boko Haram’s authorization to operate in the zone, after paying a tax to the group», the source explained. Shuwa Island serves as both a terrorist stronghold and a major fishing hub attracting Nigerian fishermen despite the inherent dangers.
rising death toll among fishermen
Union officials monitoring the crisis revealed that at least 40 Nigerian fishermen are now missing and presumed drowned following the aerial assaults. «Numerous individuals have perished», confirmed Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from the Nigerian town of Baga. «Most victims hail from Doron Baga along the Nigerian shoreline and Taraba State».
This isn’t the first incident where Chadian military operations have allegedly resulted in civilian casualties. In October 2024, Chadian airstrikes targeting Boko Haram positions on Tilma Island reportedly killed dozens of Nigerian fishermen. While the military claimed the strikes were retaliation for the killing of 40 Chadian soldiers, witnesses maintained that civilians were unintentionally struck.
the humanitarian impact of boko haram’s insurgency
Since its emergence in 2009, Boko Haram’s violent campaign has devastated the Lake Chad region, claiming over 40,000 lives and displacing two million people across Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The insurgency has progressively spread beyond Nigeria’s borders, threatening regional stability.
In 2015, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger reinstated the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), originally formed in 1994, to combat the growing jihadist threat. However, Niger withdrew from the coalition in 2025 due to escalating tensions between member states, further complicating the regional counter-terrorism effort.