The Chadian air force swiftly initiated its response following what were characterized as “devastating nocturnal assaults” by various jihadist groups. These attacks targeted the Barka Tolorom military base on May 4, tragically claiming 25 lives, including two generals, and leaving 46 injured. In retaliation, Chadian fighter jets were deployed, focusing their strikes on islands within Lake Chad that are reportedly under the control of Boko Haram, situated near the intersecting borders of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad.

Reports indicate that these aerial operations specifically targeted Shuwa island, which has been identified as both a critical jihadist stronghold and a bustling fishing center frequently visited by Nigerian fishermen. The aftermath of these bombardments has raised grave concerns: an official representing the Lake Chad fishermen’s union has asserted that at least 40 Nigerian fishermen are currently missing and are widely presumed to have drowned during the intensive shelling.

A considerable number of these presumed victims are believed to originate from Doron Baga, a town located on the Nigerian shores of Lake Chad. This very locality was the site of a devastating massacre in 2015, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 2,000 people. As of now, the Nigerian press has not offered comments on these claims emanating from its neighboring country, despite its own national army often facing accusations of inadvertently causing civilian casualties through its bombing campaigns. The most recent such incident involving the Nigerian military occurred just weeks ago, when