Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has reacted to the reported killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) worldwide, during a joint military operation involving American forces and the Nigerian military.
In a post shared on Facebook on Saturday, Gumi stated that combating terrorism remains a religious obligation, but criticised what he described as the involvement of individuals responsible for civilian deaths.
“It’s a religious obligation to annihilate terrorists, but not with Beelzebub and hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children,” the cleric wrote.
His comments came shortly after Donald Trump announced that United States forces, working alongside the Nigerian Armed Forces, carried out an operation in Africa that resulted in the death of al-Minuki.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday, Trump said the mission was executed following extensive intelligence gathering and strategic coordination between both countries.
According to the US President, al-Minuki was one of the most active ISIS commanders globally and was heavily involved in coordinating attacks as well as supporting terrorist activities targeting Americans and African communities.
Trump further stated that the successful operation would weaken ISIS operations worldwide and significantly reduce the group’s influence across Africa.
He also praised the Nigerian government and the military for their cooperation and support during the operation.
