Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has broken his silence following the high-profile elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of ISIS. Al-Minuki was killed in a joint operation by United States forces and the Nigerian military.

While Gumi backed the elimination of terrorists as a religious duty, he strongly criticized the global powers involved in the operation.

“It’s a religious obligation to annihilate terrorists, but not with Beelzebub and hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children,” Gumi wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday.

The Raid that Took Down ISIS's No. 2

The cleric's reaction comes immediately after US President Donald Trump announced the successful counterterrorism mission via his Truth Social account.

Key highlights of the operation include:

  • Strategic Partnership: The mission was a highly coordinated effort between the US military and the Armed Forces of Nigeria, following months of extensive intelligence gathering.

  • A Global Threat Defeated: Trump described al-Minuki as one of the most active figures in ISIS, responsible for masterminding deadly attacks against both African communities and American interests.

  • Disrupting the Network: The White House expects al-Minuki's death to severely cripple ISIS's operational capacity globally and drastically weaken its influence across the African continent.

President Trump also explicitly commended the Nigerian government and military leaders for their critical cooperation in executing the successful raid.