Dozens of Nigerian Fishermen Feared Dead in Chad Air Strikes on Boko Haram

Dozens of Nigerian Fishermen Feared Dead in Chad Air Strikes on Boko Haram

Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following air strikes carried out by the Chadian military targeting Boko Haram positions in the Lake Chad region, according to a local fishermen’s union leader who spoke to the BBC. The incident has raised fresh concerns over civilian safety in one of West Africa’s most volatile conflict zones.

Abubakar Gamandi Usman, chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, said several members of the association are still missing and estimated that more than 40 fishermen may have died. He explained that while no bodies have been recovered, many are believed to have been caught in the strikes or drowned while attempting to escape in overcrowded boats.

Authorities in both Chad and Nigeria have not issued an official response to the reported civilian casualties at the time of filing this report.

The Chadian presidency, however, confirmed that its military conducted “intensive air strikes” in the Lake Chad basin, describing the operation as retaliation for recent attacks on Chadian military bases. According to the statement posted on its official Facebook page, Boko Haram had launched coordinated attacks on military positions, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 soldiers, including two senior generals.

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The Lake Chad basin, shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, is a vast network of waterways and islands that has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province. The region’s geography makes it difficult for security forces to distinguish between militant hideouts and civilian fishing settlements.

Usman told the BBC that Boko Haram fighters retreated to island bases after attacking Chadian troops, and that fishermen also live and operate in those same areas. He said panic spread when Chadian air force jets began circling the region, forcing both militants and civilians to flee hurriedly across the waterways.

The fishermen leader also alleged that Boko Haram exerts significant control over parts of the fishing economy in the region, including access to fishing grounds, transportation of fishermen, and informal taxation on fish sales in local markets. These claims reflect long-standing concerns about militant influence over livelihoods in the Lake Chad basin.

He further explained that search and rescue efforts have been slow due to the difficult terrain, with deep waters, scattered islands, and limited access to boats. Many canoes in the area, he said, are controlled or restricted by armed groups, making recovery operations even more difficult.

The Chadian military has previously faced allegations of civilian casualties during operations in the region. In October 2024, reports claimed that air strikes on Tilma Island in Lake Chad killed dozens of Nigerian fishermen while targeting Boko Haram positions, raising renewed concerns about the risks faced by civilians during counter-insurgency operations.

The latest incident adds to growing insecurity in the Lake Chad region, where recent months have seen increased attacks on security forces, kidnappings, and raids on rural communities despite ongoing multinational military operations aimed at degrading insurgent networks.

Dozens of Nigerian Fishermen Feared Dead in Chad Air Strikes on Boko Haram