At Least 24 Chadian Soldiers Killed by Boko Haram Before Chad Air Strikes on Lake Chad Islands Also Feared to Have Killed Nigerian Fishermen

More than 40 Nigerian fishermen are feared dead after Chad carried out air strikes on Boko Haram strongholds in the Lake Chad region, Abubakar Gamandi Usman, chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, told the BBC News. Usman said several members of the association are missing. No bodies have been recovered following the incident.

Usman believes some fishermen were hit by the strikes. He believes others drowned after attempting to flee in overloaded boats. Chad's presidency stated it carried out retaliatory intensive air strikes on Boko Haram strongholds.

The presidency issued the statement on Facebook on Sunday. Boko Haram carried out attacks on Chadian military bases near Lake Chad last Monday and Wednesday. The attacks reportedly killed at least 24 soldiers and two generals.

After Boko Haram attacked Chadian forces, they retreated to islands they operate from, Usman told the BBC News. Fishermen also inhabit these islands. Chad's air force began circling overhead on Friday.

Panic broke out with both Boko Haram fighters and fishermen attempting to flee after Chad's air force appeared. The search for the missing fishermen has been slow because some parts of Lake Chad are very deep, Usman said. The local community has limited access to canoes because many are controlled by Boko Haram.

Boko Haram controls access to the fishing grounds. The group transports fishermen to and from the fish market to the fishing site and collects taxes from the fishermen. The Lake Chad basin is shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.