Following a coordinated regional military offensive, jihadist factions of Boko Haram have abandoned their strongholds along the Lake Chad basin after sustained airstrikes and ground operations. The assault, involving Chadian, Nigerian, and Nigerien forces, has significantly weakened the group’s operational capacity in the area.
coordinated strikes and civilian casualties
Since Friday, Chadian warplanes have targeted remote islands within the Lake Chad region—a sprawling, marshy expanse shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. This territory has been a jihadist stronghold since 2009, hosting both Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The aerial bombardment inadvertently struck fishing communities, killing dozens of Nigerian fishermen who had been operating in areas under Boko Haram control. These fishermen were reportedly forced to pay extortionate “taxes” to the militant group to access the islands.
Disturbing footage reviewed by local media shows severely burned victims receiving treatment at a hospital in Bosso, Niger, after the strikes.
jihadists abandon key islands under pressure
Local fishermen, including Suleiman Hassan, who fled the conflict zone, confirmed that Boko Haram militants are evacuating islands near the Shuwa border region, which spans Nigeria, Niger, and Chad. Hassan, who arrived in Maiduguri—capital of Borno State—stated that fighters, along with their families, are escaping in small canoes to avoid further attacks.
Among the islands abandoned are Dogon Chukwu, Kangarwa, Gashakar, Yawan Mango, and Kwatar Mota. Meanwhile, Chadian troops engaged in direct clashes with militants on Kaukeri Island, a critical Boko Haram outpost.
retaliation against recent attacks
The military operations come in response to a series of deadly assaults by Boko Haram on Chadian security forces. Last week, Chad declared three days of national mourning following an ambush that claimed the lives of two high-ranking generals. Just two days prior, another attack on a military base along the Lake Chad shoreline resulted in at least 24 soldier fatalities.
An anonymous intelligence source from Nigeria disclosed that both Nigeria and Niger are actively participating in the offensive. According to the source, “airstrikes are being jointly coordinated by Chad, Nigeria, and Niger, with each country deploying two fighter jets.”
With their movement restricted, fleeing jihadists and their families are reportedly trapped along the Lake Chad shoreline, hesitant to advance toward areas controlled by ISWAP—a rival faction that split from Boko Haram in 2016.
escalation and regional response
The jihadist insurgency, which has ravaged the Northeastern Nigeria region, has spilled into neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. In response, these nations have reinvigorated their Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), originally established in 1994 to combat cross-border threats.
Since its inception, the insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, primarily in Nigeria’s Borno State and surrounding areas.
