Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has reacted to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria worldwide, by American forces in collaboration with the Nigerian military.
Gumi, in a Facebook post on Saturday, described the fight against terrorism as a religious obligation but criticised the involvement of those he accused of shedding innocent blood.
“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 reaction followed the announcement by United States President Donald Trump that US forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces carried out a joint military operation that led to the killing of al-Minuki in Africa.
In a statement shared on his Truth Social account on Saturday, Trump said the operation followed extensive intelligence gathering and strategic coordination.
According to him, al-Minuki was among the most active ISIS figures and played major roles in coordinating attacks and supporting terrorist operations against Americans and African communities.
The US President said the operation would significantly weaken ISIS activities globally and reduce the group’s influence across Africa.
Trump also commended the Nigerian government and military authorities for their cooperation during the operation.