Volume 2 - Issue 3, May - June 2026

Targeted killings have become a norm in the fight against insurgency across the world. Perceived enemies are often targeted and eliminated through whatever means are deemed suitable, thereby circumventing a fair trial for those perceived as enemies. Perpetrators of this practice believe that such actions can deter the spread of terrorism or, at best, represent the most effective option for eliminating enemies of the state. Notable figures across the globe have been eliminated through this practice, in which world superpower nations and non-international state actors are equally complicit. This practice has fundamentally eroded the right to life — a fundamental right guaranteed by various human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the European Convention on Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and others. These instruments recognize the necessity of preserving human rights at every level. The methodology of this research is qualitative, adopting a doctrinal approach informed by interviews and social media sources. The findings of this research constitute a call for proactive action in checking the perpetrators of this practice and holding them accountable. It further reveals that perpetrators routinely disregard the sanctity of human rights in their operations, which is both barbaric and deeply troubling. It is the submission of this article that the arbitrary deprivation of human life is contrary to the tenets of all human rights law, as taking human lives without due process erodes the very purpose of all human rights instruments.

Dr. Lugard A. Emokpae,"Targeted Killings in Armed Conflicts: A Violation of Human Rights Norms under International Law" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(3): Page(328-348) May-June 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.