Sheikh Gumi says killing terrorists is a religious duty, warns against U.S. collaboration

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has reacted to the reported killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a senior Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) figure, in a joint operation involving United States forces and the Nigerian military.

In a post shared on his Facebook page on Saturday, Gumi said efforts to combat terrorism were necessary and a moral duty, but cautioned against what he described as collaboration with parties he accused of having blood on their hands.

He wrote: “It’s a religious obligation to annihilate terrorists, but not with Beelzebub and hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children.”

His comments followed an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said American forces, working alongside the Nigerian Armed Forces, had carried out an operation that resulted in the death of al-Minuki in Africa.

Trump disclosed the development on his Truth Social platform, saying the mission was executed after extensive intelligence gathering and close coordination between both countries’ security agencies.

According to the U.S. President, al-Minuki played a key role within ISIS operations, including coordinating attacks and supporting activities linked to the group across Africa and beyond.

He added that the operation would significantly weaken the group’s global network and reduce its capacity to launch further attacks, while also praising Nigeria’s role in the joint mission.

The development has continued to draw attention amid ongoing global efforts to dismantle extremist networks operating across West Africa and the wider Sahel region.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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