Chad lake air strikes: dozens of Nigerian fishermen missing after regional operations
The Chadian Armed Forces have conducted aerial bombings since Friday targeting multiple islands in Lake Chad, located in Nigerien territory. These strikes are framed as counter-terrorism measures against Boko Haram strongholds following a recent armed assault on Chadian military positions.
According to witnesses and local self-defense groups, the operations have resulted in significant civilian casualties, particularly among Nigerian fishermen operating in the region with alleged permission from Boko Haram. The attacks are reported to have taken place near the remote Shuwa Island, a known militant hub and fishing hotspot where borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad converge.
Local fishing unions have raised alarm over the disappearance of at least 40 Nigerian fishermen presumed dead following the bombings. Many survivors from fishing communities along Lake Chad’s Nigerian shorelines, including areas like Doron Baga and Taraba State, have shared harrowing accounts of the incident. According to fisherman Adamu Haladu from Baga, “most victims were from our area, and we know these waters are controlled by Boko Haram—fishermen pay taxes just to access them.”
Civilian casualties in cross-border anti-terror operations
This is not the first instance of civilian harm in such operations. In October 2024, Chadian airstrikes targeting Boko Haram on Tilma Island reportedly killed dozens of Nigerian fishermen. The military denied targeting civilians, though witnesses maintained the strikes struck civilian vessels. The recurring incidents highlight the dangers faced by local fishing communities caught in the crossfire of regional security efforts.
Lake Chad has been a focal point of insurgency activity since 2009, hosting both Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). The ongoing violence has displaced over 2 million people and claimed over 40,000 lives in Nigeria alone, according to UN estimates. The insurgency has since spread across borders into Niger, Cameroon, and Chad.
Regional response and shifting alliances
In 2015, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger reactivated the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional coalition formed in 1994 to combat transnational threats. However, Niger withdrew from the force in 2025, citing strained diplomatic relations that have weakened collective counter-terrorism efforts. The withdrawal underscores the fragility of regional cooperation amid escalating militant activity.
The situation remains fluid, with military operations continuing and civilian safety increasingly at risk. Local leaders and fishing communities are calling for greater accountability and protection measures to prevent further loss of innocent lives in the conflict zone.
