Kumbe over 40 Nigerian fishermen are feared dead after Chad's military launched air strikes meant to target Boko Haram militants, lakini these ordinary watu just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sawa, this is the kind of collateral damage that shouldn't be happening, bana.

When Protection Becomes Tragedy

Chad's military came out swinging last Friday with intensive air strikes on Boko Haram strongholds after the terror group attacked Chadian military bases, killing at least 24 soldiers and two generals. Ndio, the retaliation made sense on paper—hit the terrorists hard, protect your troops. But here's the thing: those same islands where Boko Haram operates? That's where hundreds of fishermen are trying to make a living, aki.

Abubakar Gamandi Usman, the chairman of Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association, told BBC that when Chad's air force started circling overhead on Friday, chaos erupted. Both Boko Haram fighters AND fishermen bolted for safety. Some caught bullets from the strikes. Others? They drowned after jumping into overloaded boats trying to escape. No bodies recovered yet, but the estimates are grim—over 40 people gone, just like that.

The Real Problem: Boko Haram's Iron Grip

Here's what makes this situation absolutely messed up: Boko Haram doesn't just occupy those islands. They control EVERYTHING. Want to fish? Boko Haram transports you. Want to sell your catch? Boko Haram manages the market route. Trying to make money? Boko Haram collects taxes. These fishermen are literally trapped in a system where the terrorists are their only option for survival. Sijui how you're supposed to choose between starvation and sleeping next to armed militants.

The search and rescue has been painfully slow too. Lake Chad has areas so deep that finding bodies is nearly impossible. Plus, many canoes are controlled by Boko Haram, so locals don't even have the tools to search for their own people. It's a nightmare stacked on top of another nightmare.

This Isn't Even the First Time

What's absolutely infuriating? This happened before. Back in October 2024, Chad's air force allegedly killed dozens of fishermen during similar strikes on Tilma Island. Same pattern. Same tragedy. Same silence from Nigerian authorities who haven't even issued a public statement about these recent deaths. Meanwhile, Lake Chad's violence is escalating—more attacks on security forces, more kidnappings, more raids. The whole region is bleeding.

The Jukwaa Take: Aki, we need accountability and a better plan because right now, innocent fishermen are paying the ultimate price for wars they didn't start.

📰 Source: BBC Africa