Abu-Bilal al-Minuki Elimination – Sheikh Gumi Blasts U.S. After Airstrike Kills ISIS Second-In-Command In Africa, Says Its Hands Are “Stained With The Blood Of Innocent Men, Women, And Children”

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki Elimination – Sheikh Gumi Blasts U.S. After Airstrike Kills ISIS Second-In-Command In Africa, Says Its Hands Are “Stained With The Blood Of Innocent Men, Women, And Children.”

A known negotiator with bandit groups and Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has condemned the United States government following a joint military operation that took out a senior ISIS figure in Africa.

The airstrike, carried out by American and Nigerian forces, reportedly killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who was described as the second-in-command of the Islamic State in West Africa and across the continent. While the military sees the operation as a victory against terrorism, Gumi views it through a different lens.

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Speaking in a recent statement, the Kaduna-based cleric said that fighting terrorism is a religious duty, but not when it involves working with what he called “Beelzebub” – a reference to the U.S. military – or using methods that lead to the death of ordinary people.

“It is a religious obligation to annihilate terrorists, but not with Beelzebub and hands stained with the blood of innocent men, women, and children,” Gumi said.

His remark points to a long-held suspicion among some local voices that foreign airstrikes often miss their intended targets and end up killing villagers, travelers, or herders who have no connection to armed groups.

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Gumi did not stop at criticising the operation. He went further to warn Nigerian authorities against allowing the United States to take a bigger role in the country’s internal security challenges. According to him, bringing in outside forces could open the door to more violence and deepen an already unstable situation in the northeast and other parts of the country.

“The Americans do not understand our terrain, our people, or the roots of this crisis. Their involvement will only breed more resentment and more fighters,” he added.

The sheikh has over the years maintained a position that sets him apart from many security officials. While the Nigerian government has insisted on a military-first approach against bandits and insurgents, Gumi has repeatedly pushed for dialogue and negotiation. He has visited forest camps, spoken with armed groups, and argued that poverty, marginalisation, and government failure are what feed the insurgency.

His latest comments are likely to stir fresh debate, especially coming just days after the defence headquarters confirmed the success of the joint operation. Officials have not released details about possible civilian casualties from the airstrike, and it remains unclear whether any non-combatants were on the ground at the time of the attack.

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The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has not issued a follow-up statement addressing Gumi’s accusations. However, previous U.S. military releases have often emphasised precision in their strikes and efforts to avoid civilian harm.

For many Nigerians, the clash of opinions between the cleric and the military highlights a bigger question – whether foreign help is worth the risk, and whether dialogue can work alongside drone strikes. As things stand, the government has shown no sign of stepping back from cooperation with the U.S. on intelligence and tactical operations.

Gumi, however, remains unmoved. In his view, the path to peace does not run through Washington. And every foreign bomb, he argues, makes that path harder to find.

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki Elimination – Sheikh Gumi Blasts U.S. After Airstrike Kills ISIS Second-In-Command In Africa, Says Its Hands Are “Stained With The Blood Of Innocent Men, Women, And Children.”