Alhaji Abubakar Gamandi, chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Fisheries Association of Nigeria, has raised alarms that armed groups now control six distinct locations on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad.
Gamandi’s claims, originally made during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on November 7, 2026, were brought to public attention by Samuel Aruwan, a former Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, in an opinion piece published by Premium Times Nigeria. Aruwan noted his keen interest in the interview, particularly Gamandi’s repeated assertion regarding the insurgents’ territorial grip.
This development underscores persistent security challenges in the region, directly threatening the livelihoods of thousands who depend on the Lake Chad fishing industry and further complicating efforts to restore peace and economic stability.
According to Aruwan, Gamandi meticulously detailed the extent of the insurgents’ control, indicating that these six areas are now under the firm grip of non-state armed actors, widely believed to be elements of Boko Haram or the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Such control severely restricts legitimate fishing activities, forces communities to pay illegal levies, and fuels displacement, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis already prevalent in the region.
Insurgency’s Grip on Lake Chad Livelihoods
The Lake Chad Basin, which borders Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has been the epicentre of a protracted insurgency for over a decade. The conflict has devastated local economies, particularly the once-vibrant fishing and agricultural sectors. Communities around the lake have faced relentless attacks, abductions, and forced displacement, turning what was once a source of prosperity into a hotbed of insecurity and humanitarian need.
Gamandi’s statement directly challenges narratives of sustained progress against insurgency, suggesting that despite extensive military operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), significant pockets of control remain outside government authority. The fishing industry, a critical source of income and food security for millions in the region, has been among the hardest hit.
Experts point out that control over strategic areas within the Lake Chad Basin provides armed groups with vital resources, including access to local populations for recruitment and taxation, as well as opportunities for illicit trade in fish, minerals, and other commodities. This economic leverage allows them to sustain their operations and extend their influence.
Nigerian authorities have consistently reiterated their commitment to restoring full security to the North-East and the Lake Chad Basin. However, claims like those made by Gamandi highlight the complex, evolving nature of the insurgency, where gains by security forces are often met with tactical adaptations by armed groups.
The reported seizure of these six locations demands urgent and verified attention from security agencies and policymakers. The continued insecurity directly impedes humanitarian access, development initiatives, and the safe return of internally displaced persons, keeping the region in a precarious state of instability and underdevelopment.
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