The government of Chad has firmly rejected accusations that its military airstrike targeting Boko Haram militants led to civilian casualties on Nigeria’s Tilma island. Local sources, including fishermen reported that the strike killed scores of fishermen near Lake Chad on Wednesday. This action followed a Boko Haram raid that claimed the lives of at least 40 Chadian soldiers.
Government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah emphasised Chad’s commitment to avoiding civilian targets, maintaining that the strikes were well-organised and only hit “well-identified jihadist groups.”
However, a senior Chadian military official, speaking anonymously, suggested that differentiating between civilians and militants on Lake Chad’s islands can be challenging, as Boko Haram fighters often mingle with locals.
Nigerian militia leader Babakura Kolo said the strike mistook the fishermen for Boko Haram terrorists, while survivors described panicked scenes as bombs fell. Fisherman Sallau Arzika, who escaped the attack, said bodies remained scattered across Tilma Island.
Chad’s counter-operations come due to ongoing violence in the region, where Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP have used Lake Chad’s islands as safe havens. Chad’s President, Mahamat Idriss Deby, who visited the affected military base, is reported to be personally leading the nation’s efforts against the militants.
Since Boko Haram’s emergence in Nigeria in 2009, violence has spread across the region, resulting in an estimated 40,000 deaths and the displacement of millions.
