Chad

40+ Nigerian Fishermen Feared Dead After Chad Strikes on Boko Haram

Were Chad's airstrikes on Boko Haram a justified military response or a reckless attack that killed innocent civilians?

Published MAY 12

40+ Nigerian Fishermen Feared Dead After Chad Strikes on Boko Haram

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Above: Chadian soldiers patrol on Lake Chad by boat from a military base in Lake Chad Province on May 6, 2026. Image credit: Joris Bolomey/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Chad had every right to strike back after Boko Haram killed two generals and at least 24 soldiers in coordinated attacks near Lake Chad. The threat is real and growing, and any government would be expected to respond forcefully to repeated assaults on its military, even if the reported deaths of Nigerian fishermen in the crossfire are a tragic consequence of a complex, fast-moving fight against an entrenched insurgency.

Presidency of the Republic of Chad on Facebook

Government-critical narrative

Chad's airstrikes on Boko Haram positions in Lake Chad killed more than 40 Nigerian fishermen who had nothing to do with the fighting. Trapped on islands controlled by armed groups, they drowned fleeing in overcrowded boats as Chadian jets began bombing. With a near-identical incident involving Nigerian fishermen reported in October 2024, this looks less like an accident than a reckless and deeply flawed counterinsurgency approach.

RFI TheCable Sahara Reporters