The United States government has imposed sanctions on eight Nigerians over alleged connections to Boko Haram, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and cyber-related offences, resulting in the freezing of their assets within US jurisdiction.
The action was detailed in a 3,000-page report dated February 10 and issued by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The document, reviewed on Monday, listed individuals and entities whose properties have been blocked as part of counter-terrorism and security measures.
The sanctions follow recent recommendations by members of the US Congress advocating visa restrictions and asset freezes against individuals and groups accused of religious freedom violations and persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Among those earlier recommended for sanctions by US lawmakers were former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Kautal.
The OFAC publication, titled “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List,” serves as an official notice identifying persons and organisations whose assets are subject to sanctions. It includes individuals of various nationalities and outlines measures taken against those designated under counter-terrorism regulations.
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According to the agency, the list is intended to guide compliance with US sanctions programmes.
“This publication of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is designed as a reference tool providing actual notice of actions by OFAC with respect to Specially Designated Nationals and other persons (which term includes both individuals and entities) whose property is blocked, to assist the public in complying with the various sanctions programmes administered by OFAC,” the agency said.
One of the Nigerians named is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born on August 23, 1990. He was identified as having links to Boko Haram and as a holder of a Nigerian passport.
Yusuf was part of a group of six Nigerians convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram cell aimed at raising funds for insurgents in Nigeria. The group was found guilty of attempting to transfer $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria.
Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, was also sanctioned under SDNTK provisions. He was listed under multiple aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Another individual, Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, was included under terrorism-related sanctions. He was reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, also referred to as Habib Yusuf, was identified as a Boko Haram leader and listed under terrorism sanctions. His year of birth was reported within the range of 1990 to 1995.
Khaled (or Khalid) Al-Barnawi, born in 1976 in Maiduguri, was named twice in the document and linked to Boko Haram. He was also known by aliases such as Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Usman.
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, was identified as residing in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and linked to Boko Haram. He was reported to possess a Nigerian passport.
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki, also called Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, was listed for alleged ties to ISIL.
Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, was designated under CYBER2 sanctions and identified as holding a Nigerian passport.
The US government said the inclusion of the individuals reflects its continued efforts to disrupt terrorism financing and cybercrime networks. As a result of the sanctions, all assets and property interests of the named individuals within US jurisdiction are blocked, and American citizens and entities are generally barred from conducting transactions with them.
Those listed face asset freezes under Executive Order 13224, which targets individuals and organisations linked to terrorism.
The US formally designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013. The group has been blamed for widespread attacks across northern and northeastern Nigeria and in the Lake Chad Basin region, including Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, resulting in thousands of deaths since 2009.
Under US law, the Secretary of State has the authority to designate countries that repeatedly support acts of international terrorism. Such designations are made pursuant to 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.
In October 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that Nigeria would again be placed on the US State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” citing allegations of religious persecution.
In a post on X, Trump stated that Nigeria would be added to a religious freedom watchlist, claiming that Christians were being persecuted and killed by Muslims.
Nigeria had previously been designated as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020 during Trump’s earlier tenure, but the classification was reversed shortly after former President Joe Biden assumed office.
