The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on eight Nigerians accused of having links to Boko Haram, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and cybercrime networks, freezing their assets and blocking financial transactions under American jurisdiction.
The sanctions were contained in a comprehensive document released on February 10 by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The document detailed individuals and entities designated as Specially Designated Nationals whose properties and financial interests have been blocked as part of broader counter-terrorism and security measures.
According to the Treasury Department, the action is aimed at cutting off financial support for terrorism and preventing sanctioned individuals from accessing international financial systems. The agency stated that the sanctions serve as a reference for the public and financial institutions to ensure compliance with US regulations.
Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born on August 23, 1990, in Nigeria. He was identified as having ties to Boko Haram and was previously convicted in the United Arab Emirates for attempting to send funds to insurgents in Nigeria.
Another individual, Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born on March 4, 1953, was sanctioned under terrorism-related provisions. He was listed under multiple aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Also designated were Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, commonly known as Ba Idrisa, and Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, also referred to as Habib Yusuf. Both were identified as key figures linked to Boko Haram and were sanctioned for their alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
Khaled Al-Barnawi, born in 1976 in Maiduguri, Borno State, appeared twice in the publication under various aliases. Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born on January 31, 1981, was listed as a Nigerian passport holder residing in Abu Dhabi and linked to Boko Haram operations.
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki, also known as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, was flagged for alleged ties to ISIL. Meanwhile, Nnamdi Orson Benson, born on March 21, 1987, was designated under cybercrime-related sanctions for alleged involvement in financial and digital crimes.
The sanctions mean that all properties and interests belonging to the listed individuals within US jurisdiction are blocked, and American citizens and institutions are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. The measures were implemented under Executive Order 13224, which targets individuals and organisations associated with terrorism.
The move follows recent calls by US lawmakers for visa bans and asset freezes on persons and groups accused of violating religious freedom and persecuting Christians in Nigeria. In October 2025, President Donald Trump announced that Nigeria would again be added to the US Department of State’s list of Countries of Particular Concern, citing alleged religious persecution.
The United States designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013, blaming the group for thousands of deaths across northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin since 2009. American authorities say the latest sanctions reflect continued efforts to combat terrorism financing, cybercrime, and international security threats.
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