The Chadian military has reportedly killed numerous fishermen in Nigeria, mistakenly identifying them as members of the militant group Boko Haram.
The airstrike, aimed at jihadists believed to be hiding along Lake Chad’s islands, occurred on Wednesday, October 30, 2023, and struck Tilma Island in Nigeria’s Kukawa district.
At the time, many fishermen were at work, according to both local fishermen and anti-jihadist militias who spoke to AFP on Thursday, October 31.
The Chadian army launched the air raid as part of a response to a deadly attack by Boko Haram militants on a military base in Chad earlier in the week.
On October 27, Boko Haram fighters assaulted the Chadian base, leaving 40 people dead and many others wounded.
This attack was claimed by Boko Haram in a video released shortly afterward, marking yet another violent escalation in the region.
Babakura Kolo, a leader within the anti-jihadist militias collaborating with Nigerian forces against militant groups in the area, stated, “There was an attack on fishermen by a fighter jet belonging to the Chadian military on Tilma Island which killed scores of fishermen.”
He added that the airstrike appeared to have been a case of mistaken identity, as the Chadian forces seemingly confused the fishermen with Boko Haram militants in the area.
A Chadian general staff officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged to AFP that airstrikes had indeed taken place over islands situated at the border regions of Nigeria and Niger.
The officer explained that Boko Haram insurgents frequently disguise themselves among local populations, including fishermen and farmers, making it difficult for military personnel to distinguish between civilians and militants.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby visited the site of the October 27 attack on the military base, where he vowed to pursue the attackers “to their last entrenchment.” His visit underscored the tense atmosphere in Chad, where security forces are actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram.
Local accounts painted a harrowing picture of the airstrike’s impact on the fishing community.
Ibrahim Liman, another leader within the anti-jihadist militia, reported that many of the fishermen affected by the bombardment were residents of the Nigerian towns of Baga, Doron-Baga, and Duguri, located along Lake Chad’s shores.
Sallau Arzika, one of the fishermen who survived the assault, described a scene of panic and chaos as the fighter jet circled the island before releasing bombs.
“The fighter jet encircled Tilma before beginning to drop bombs while people ran in all directions for cover,” Arzika recounted. He managed to escape the airstrike, fleeing back to the town of Monguno.
“A large number of fishermen were killed. No one can give an exact number because bodies are still scattered across Tilma,” he added.
The injured and some of the deceased were reportedly taken to a military base located at Mile 4, near Baga, according to Arzika. Another fisherman, Labo Sani, a resident of Doron-Baga, shared that two of his friends lost their lives in the bombing, while another friend was critically injured. “We were carrying out our fishing, and it never crossed our minds that we would be attacked and killed by a fighter jet,” Sani said.
This incident highlights the complexities and dangers faced by civilians in conflict zones, where insurgent groups often blend in with local communities and make it challenging for security forces to identify legitimate targets.
The tragic outcome serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed to innocent lives amidst military campaigns against armed groups in the Lake Chad region.
