The United States has imposed financial sanctions on eight Nigerian nationals accused of ties to terrorist organizations Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as cybercrime activities.
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a comprehensive document over the weekend—spanning more than 3,000 pages—identifying individuals sanctioned for terrorism-related offenses, cybercrime, and other security threats. The sanctions freeze all property and assets belonging to these individuals within U.S. jurisdiction.
This action follows recent U.S. Congressional recommendations calling for visa bans and asset freezes against former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and various Miyetti Allah groups over allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
The OFAC publication serves as a reference guide, providing public notice of actions taken against Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs)—individuals and entities whose property and financial interests are blocked as part of U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
“This publication is designed as a reference tool providing actual notice of actions by OFAC with respect to Specially Designated Nationals and other persons whose property is blocked, to assist the public in complying with the various sanctions programs administered by OFAC,” the agency stated.
The Sanctioned Individuals
Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu (also known as Salihu Yusuf), born August 23, 1990, in Nigeria. Adamu was identified as having connections to Boko Haram and holds a Nigerian passport. He was among six Nigerians convicted in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram fundraising cell in the United Arab Emirates. The group was found guilty of attempting to transfer $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria to support Boko Haram fighters.
Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, in Nigeria, was designated under terrorism-related sanctions. He operates under several aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi (also known as Ba Idrisa), believed to have been born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State, was flagged under terrorism-related sanctions.
Abu Musab Al-Barnawi (also referred to as Habib Yusuf), listed with birth years ranging from 1990 to 1995, was identified as a Boko Haram leader and sanctioned under terrorism provisions.
Khaled/Khalid Al-Barnawi, born in 1976 in Maiduguri, Nigeria, was linked to Boko Haram and uses several aliases including Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Usman.
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, in Nigeria, holds a Nigerian passport and reportedly resides in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He was identified as having links to Boko Haram.
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Al-Mainuki (also known as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki), born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, was identified as having ties to ISIL.
Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, in Nigeria, was listed under cybercrime-related sanctions and holds a Nigerian passport.
Implications of the Sanctions
The inclusion of these individuals on the OFAC list underscores Washington’s ongoing commitment to combating terrorism financing and cyber threats. The sanctions block all property and interests of these individuals within U.S. jurisdiction, and American citizens and entities are prohibited from conducting financial transactions with them.
The designations fall under Executive Order 13224, which targets individuals and entities involved in terrorism and terrorist financing.
Background on Boko Haram
The United States officially designated Boko Haram as a “foreign terrorist organization” in 2013. According to the State Department, the group has been “responsible for numerous attacks in the northern and northeastern regions of [Nigeria], as well as in the Lake Chad Basin in Cameroon, Chad and Niger that have killed thousands of people since 2009.”
Countries that repeatedly provide support for acts of international terrorism are designated by the U.S. Secretary of State under three laws: section 1754(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and Section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
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