Chad’s military targets Boko Haram strongholds

Since Friday, Chadian fighter jets have been striking islands in Lake Chad controlled by Boko Haram, located near the borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad. A member of an anti-jihadist self-defense group reports these operations were launched in response to a recent Boko Haram attack on Chad’s military. The strikes reportedly targeted Shuwa Island, a known jihadist stronghold and a major fishing hub frequented by Nigerian fishermen.

Fishermen caught in the crossfire

A representative of the Lake Chad fisherman’s union states that at least 40 Nigerian fishermen are missing and likely drowned during the bombings. “Many people were killed,” testified Adamu Haladu, a fisherman from Baga in Nigeria’s northeast. He added that most victims hailed from Doron Baga and Taraba State. Witnesses explain that fishermen were permitted to access these fish-rich areas only after paying a tax imposed by Boko Haram.

Related read: Chad declares state of emergency in Lake Province after Boko Haram attacks

A region plagued by insecurity

Lake Chad, shared by Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has been a haven for jihadist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over fifteen years. In 2015, regional countries relaunched a joint multinational force to counter the threat, but cooperation has weakened in recent years, particularly after Niger’s withdrawal from the alliance in 2025. Chad’s military has not yet issued an official response to these claims.