Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared to have perished following air strikes conducted by Chad’s military against Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad region. Abubakar Gamandi Usman, chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, reported that several members of his association are missing, with his estimates suggesting that over 40 individuals may have lost their lives. While no bodies have been recovered, Usman believes the fishermen may have been caught in the crossfire of the military operation or drowned while attempting to escape in overcrowded vessels.

Chadian authorities have stated that the air strikes were a response to recent “unjustified attacks” by Boko Haram on Chadian military bases near Lake Chad. These attacks, which occurred last Monday and Wednesday, reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 24 soldiers, including two generals. Chad’s presidency confirmed that “intensive air strikes” were carried out on Boko Haram strongholds as a retaliatory measure.

The Lake Chad basin, a vast area encompassing waterways and swampland shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, has long been a persistent stronghold for both Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The region is characterized by its complex terrain, which militants exploit for operations.

Usman explained that the affected islands are often inhabited by both Boko Haram fighters and fishermen. When Chad’s air force initiated operations on Friday, a chaotic scene ensued as both militants and fishermen attempted to flee. The search for the missing individuals is proving difficult due to the depth of certain parts of Lake Chad and the limited access to canoes, many of which are reportedly controlled by Boko Haram. These militant groups also exert control over fishing grounds, managing the transportation of fishermen and collecting taxes from their activities.

This incident echoes a similar event in October 2024, when Chadian air strikes targeting Boko Haram fighters on Tilma Island in Lake Chad were also reported to have caused the deaths of dozens of Nigerian fishermen. Nigerian authorities have not yet issued a public statement regarding the allegations of fishermen being caught in the recent strikes.