Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has reacted to the reported killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria worldwide, by American forces in collaboration with the Nigerian military.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Gumi said fighting terrorism remained a religious obligation but criticised cooperation with individuals he claimed had “hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children.”
“It’s a religious obligation to annihilate terrorists, but not with Beelzebub and hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children,” he wrote.
The cleric’s reaction followed an announcement by Donald Trump that US forces, alongside the Nigerian Armed Forces, carried out a joint military operation that led to the killing of al-Minuki in Africa.
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In a statement shared on his Truth Social account on Saturday, Trump said the operation was the outcome of extensive intelligence gathering and strategic coordination aimed at tracking the ISIS leader’s activities on the continent.
According to the US president, al-Minuki was among the most active ISIS figures and was allegedly involved in coordinating attacks and supporting terrorist operations targeting Americans and African communities.
Trump stated that the operation would significantly weaken ISIS operations globally and diminish the group’s influence across Africa.
He also commended the Nigerian government and military authorities for their collaboration during the mission.