Survivors of Chad’s military airstrike on Boko Haram terrorists that killed dozens of fishermen in the Lake Chad region have recounted ordeals, saying many people were injured.
Some of the survivors, who spoke to Daily Trust, on their hospital beds in Bosso and Diffa province in the Niger Republic, have described the situation as devastating.
One of them, who was recovering from injuries in Bosso hospital, said the number of fishermen killed was higher than the 80 being reported.
“I know of a single person who bought fishing equipment for over 30 people, and we all entered the water together, and they were all affected. Only 7 of them survived.
“There were small groups like that, who came from Taraba, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states. They were all catching fish in the area when the incident happened,” he said.
Narrating how the incident happened, he said, it’s the Boko Haram insurgents that first attacked the Chadian military at their base in Karanga.
“They killed many soldiers and ambushed the reinforcement team sent to support the troop. The following day, Chad’s Air Force jet began surveillance over the lake.
“Knowing what happened, we (fishermen) tried to return to Baga to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Unfortunately, the insurgents blocked the waterway at Kurnawa Island, where they collect taxes from us.
“We were asked by the insurgents to spend the night at a particular spot, pay our tax tomorrow morning, before we proceed. They will count the number of fish sacks you catch and collect N10,000 for each sack,” he said.
He said the insurgents assured them that nothing would happen to them but warned them not to switch on their flashlights.
“They revealed that the fighter jet will easily spot us if our light is on. Unfortunately, one of our boys said he was looking for his slippers and then he flashed the light.
“He said thorns had grown all over the place, so he turned on the light. In less than one minute, the fighter jet struck with precision and divided the boy in half.
“I have never seen charred body parts speaking until that day. He was shouting, calling names, asking us to give him water to drink before he died.
“A lot of people died because we were all gathered at one spot, including the Boko Haram insurgents. It’s a serious tragedy,” he said.
He said the incident, which happened on Friday, a day after the attack on the Chadian troops, killed people from different parts of the North.
“But the major impact of the airstrike was on the Jukun people who came from Taraba State. Nobody can estimate the number of people killed or injured, but the majority of the injured were conveyed to hospitals here and in Diffa.
“Many people refused to come to the hospital for fear of arrest. As it is now, soldiers are already here guarding some of the wounded fishermen,” he said.
Another survivor said his brother, Hussaini Jafar, was among those killed by the airstrike.
“He went fishing along with the grandson of Alhaji Umaru Dog on Baga, and they were all killed. In Maiduguri alone, almost 15 people lost their lives.
“We travelled deep into the lake to have a good catch. We crossed to the Chad section of the water, and suddenly the insurgents attacked their troops.
“We sensed a danger coming and decided to return to Baga, but luck was not on our side,” he said.
Another survivor of the airstrike at Bosso hospital, Muhammad Sani, who was heavily bandaged, said they were ordinary fishermen.
“It’s very devastating, we lost our relations, friends and loved ones, while searching for what to eat. All the money we spent to buy fishing equipment and the large catch was destroyed.
“Now, we are left to cater for our medical bills,” he said.
The chairman of Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Gamandi, told Daily Trust that the death toll has risen to over 80, and they are still counting.
“The latest figure has doubled, and we are still counting. I sent a WhatsApp message to my people there waiting for an update, but as of yesterday, they said over 80 people died against the 40 we gave earlier,” he said.
He revealed that the majority of deaths were caused by overcrowded speedboats that capsized with the fishermen trying to escape Chad’s Airforce strikes.