Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead after Chadian military air strikes targeting Boko Haram positions in the Lake Chad region, according to a local fishing union leader.
Abubakar Gamandi Usman, chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, told the BBC that more than 40 fishermen are believed to have died following the strikes, while several others remain missing.
No bodies have yet been recovered, but Usman said some fishermen were likely killed in the bombardment, while others may have drowned after fleeing in overcrowded boats amid panic caused by the attacks.
Authorities in both Chad and Nigeria have not officially commented on the reported civilian casualties. However, Chad’s presidency announced on Sunday that it had launched “intensive air strikes” against Boko Haram strongholds in retaliation for recent attacks on Chadian military positions.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Chadian presidency said the strikes were carried out after Boko Haram launched what it described as “unjustified attacks” last Monday and Wednesday on military bases near Lake Chad, reportedly killing at least 24 soldiers and two generals.
The Lake Chad basin, a vast area of waterways and marshlands shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Usman said Boko Haram fighters retreated to island bases in the lake after attacking Chadian forces, adding that fishermen also live and work in those areas.
“After Boko Haram attacked Chadian forces, they retreated to islands they operate from. Fishermen also inhabit these islands,” he told the BBC.
He said panic erupted after Chadian warplanes began circling the area on Friday, prompting both militants and civilians to attempt to flee.
Efforts to locate missing fishermen have been hampered by the depth of parts of the lake and limited access to boats, Usman said, adding that many canoes in the region are controlled by Boko Haram.
“Boko Haram controls access to the fishing grounds, transporting fishermen to and from the fish market to the fishing site. Boko Haram collects taxes from these fishermen,” he said.
The Lake Chad region has witnessed a surge in militant attacks, kidnappings and raids in recent months.
Chadian military operations in the area have previously faced accusations of causing civilian casualties. In October 2024, dozens of Nigerian fishermen were reportedly killed during Chadian air strikes targeting Boko Haram fighters on Tilma Island in Lake Chad.
Nigeria’s authorities have yet to publicly address allegations that civilians were caught up in the latest strikes.