Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following a series of retaliatory air strikes carried out by the Chadian military against Boko Haram posi
Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following a series of retaliatory air strikes carried out by the Chadian military against Boko Haram positions in the Lake Chad region.
The strikes, which began on Friday, May 8, 2026, targeted several islands—including Shuwa Island—where militants were believed to be hiding after recent deadly ambushes on Chadian forces.
Abubakar Gamandi Usman, chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, estimated that over 40 fishermen may have been killed, with many presumed drowned after attempting to flee in overloaded boats.
The bombardment comes in response to a surge in jihadist violence, including an attack earlier in May that killed at least 24 Chadian soldiers and two generals.
While the Chadian presidency confirmed it had conducted “intensive air strikes” on Boko Haram strongholds, local witnesses and union officials report that the missiles hit areas inhabited by civilians.
Many of these fishermen live on the islands under the control of the insurgents, often paying taxes to the militant group in exchange for access to fishing grounds.
As of mid-May 2026, official casualty figures have not been confirmed by the Nigerian or Chadian governments, and search efforts remain slow due to the depth of the lake and restricted access to the area.
This incident mirrors a similar tragedy in October 2024, where Chadian air strikes were also accused of killing dozens of Nigerian fishermen during operations against jihadists. The ongoing conflict continues to place local communities in the crossfire as regional forces struggle to differentiate between active insurgents and the civilians forced to live within their territory.
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