The Chadian military has come under international scrutiny after reports surfaced of an airstrike that unintentionally killed multiple Nigerian fishermen on Tilma Island in Nigeria’s Lake Chad region. The strike, aimed at suspected Boko Haram militants, reportedly mistook fishermen working in the area for insurgents.
This incident, reported shortly after a deadly Boko Haram assault on a Chadian base that left 40 soldiers dead, has raised concerns about civilian safety amid escalating anti-terror operations in the region. Babakura Kolo, leader of an anti-jihadist militia supporting Nigerian forces, explained that the Chadian fighter jet had targeted the fishermen under the mistaken assumption they were Boko Haram members.
One fisherman, Sallau Arzika, described the scene as terrifying and sudden, with the jet “encircling Tilma before beginning to drop bombs while people ran for cover.” Another, Labo Sani from Doron-Baga, reported that two of his friends were killed while a third was severely injured.
In response, the Chadian government launched “Operation Haskanite,” a new offensive against Boko Haram, with Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby committing to pursue the attackers. A military official acknowledged that militants frequently mix with civilians, making it difficult to differentiate between them and legitimate targets.
The recent intensification of anti-jihadist operations in Lake Chad underscores the challenges regional forces face as they confront the widespread impacts of Boko Haram’s insurgency, which since 2009 has destabilized the region, displacing millions and resulting in extensive civilian casualties.
