Dozens of Nigerian fishermen are feared dead following air strikes conducted by Chad's military against Boko Haram militants, according to local fishing community leaders.

A fishermen's leader told the BBC that approximately 40 people are believed to have died in the incident. The casualties reportedly occurred either as a direct result of the air strikes or from drowning as the fishermen attempted to flee the area during the attack.

The strikes were part of Chad's military operations targeting Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group that has operated across the Lake Chad basin region for over a decade. The group has been active in northeastern Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, conducting attacks against civilian and military targets.

The incident highlights the complex challenges facing military operations in the region, where civilian populations often work in areas also used by militant groups. Fishing communities around Lake Chad have frequently found themselves caught between security forces and insurgent activities.

Neither Chadian military officials nor Nigerian authorities have immediately confirmed the casualty figures or provided detailed accounts of the incident.