Dozens of Nigerian fishermen feared dead after Chad air strikes on Boko Haram

Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead after Chad's military launched air strikes on Boko Haram militants in the Chad" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="27360" data-entity-type="location">Lake Chad region, a local fishermen's leader has told the BBC.Abubakar Gamandi Usman, chairman of Chad-basin-fisheries-association-of-Nigeria" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="125323" data-entity-type="organization">Chad" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="27360" data-entity-type="location">Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, said several of the union's members were missing and estimated more than 40 had died.No bodies have yet been recovered but Usman believes some fishermen were hit by the strikes, while others drowned after attempting to flee in overloaded boats.Authorities in Chad and Nigeria have not commented, but on Sunday Chad's presidency said it had carried out retaliatory "intensive air strikes" on Boko Haram strongholds.In a statement on Facebook, the presidency said it had responded to "unjustified attacks" by Boko Haram, which took place last Monday and Wednesday and targeted Chadian military bases near Chad" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="27360" data-entity-type="location">Lake Chad, reportedly killing at least 24 soldiers and two generals.The Chad" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="27360" data-entity-type="location">Lake Chad basin is a huge region of waterways and swampland shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. It has long been a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap). "After Boko Haram attacked Chadian forces, they retreated to islands they operate from. Fishermen also inhabit these islands," Usman told the BBC.