The United States has frozen the assets of eight Nigerian nationals accused of supporting militant groups Boko Haram and ISIL, as well as involvement in international cybercrime.
A 3,000-page document released by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) details the measures, which block all property and financial interests of the named individuals within US jurisdiction.
The move follows rising pressure from the US Congress to address security threats and religious persecution in West Africa.
Terror financing and leadership
Among those targeted is Salih Yusuf Adamu, who was previously convicted in the United Arab Emirates for his role in a Boko Haram cell that attempted to funnel $782,000 from Dubai to insurgents in Nigeria.
The list also includes high-profile figures within the Lake Chad Basin’s insurgency:
- Abu Musab al-Barnawi: Identified as a Boko Haram leader.
- Abu Abdullah ibn Umar al-Barnawi: Flagged under terrorism-related sanctions.
- Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki: Alleged to have direct ties to ISIL.
- Khalid al-Barnawi: Linked to numerous attacks in northern Nigeria.
The Treasury department stated that the publication serves as a “reference tool” to ensure the public and financial institutions comply with counter-terrorism efforts.
Cybercrime and political context
Beyond militancy, the sanctions hit individuals like Nnamdi Orson Benson, who was designated for cybercrime-related offences.
The announcement comes amid a tightening of US policy toward Nigeria. In October 2025, President Donald Trump returned Nigeria to the “Countries of Particular Concern” list—a watchlist for nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom.
Nigeria was first placed on the list in 2020 during the first Trump administration, before being removed by President Joe Biden. The reinstatement followed recommendations by US lawmakers for visa bans on several Nigerian political figures and organizations.
Boko Haram was officially designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by Washington in 2013. The group’s decade-long insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
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