The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights deplores the deadly airstrike that caused mass civilian death in Yobe State, the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), through the Country Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, follows with grave concern the recent killing of a large number of civilians from an airstrike at Jilli market in Yobe State.
The African Commission has learned from reports that the Nigerian military conducted an airstrike on Saturday, 11 April 2026, targeting a location in Jilli, allegedly long identified as a major terrorist movement corridor and convergence point for Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists and their collaborators.
The African Commission has further learned that the airstrike hit a village market, resultantly killing over 200 civilians, injuring many and destroying property in the process.
The African Commission unreservedly condemns this indiscriminate attack, which affected men, women and children and gravely trampled on various rights of the victims of the attack, including the right to life and the right to personal security.
The Commission notes with grave concern that the latest incident which forms part of a pattern of similar incidents – including in Zamfara State in December 2022 killing 64 civilians, Kaduna State in December 2023 in which 85 civilians lost their lives, in Sokoto State in December 2024 in which 10 civilians lost their lives and in Zamfara State in January 2025 in which 16 civilians were killed – constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), particularly the right to life (Article 4), the right to dignity (Article 5), the right to property (Article 14) and the right to peace and security (Article 23).
In view of the foregoing, the African Commission calls upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to take the following actions:
1. Launch an independent, transparent, and impartial investigation into the circumstances that led to the mass civilian casualties from the strike;
2. Institute oversight and accountability systems to ensure the enforcement of the principle of precaution in the planning and execution of military operations and to establish responsibility when civilians are involved;
3. Ensure that those responsible, regardless of rank or affiliation, are held accountable both through the internal administrative and independent judicial processes;
4. Adopt the requisite legal, institutional and administrative measures for the reparation and rehabilitation of the victims and their families;
5. Review and strengthen operational procedures and rules of engagement governing military airstrikes to ensure full compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law, including through domestication of the African Commission Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights while Countering Terrorism in Africa, and
6. Guarantee the protection of civilians in conflict‑affected areas, including security forces on civilian protection, targeting protocols, and the application of the principles of distinction and proportionality.
The African Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and remains ready to engage with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that justice, accountability, and the protection of human and peoples’ rights are assured.
Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, PhD
Country Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Done this 16th day of April 2026
