The United States has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of having links to the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as cybercrime-related offences.
This was contained in a 3,000-page document dated February 10, released by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and titled “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List” (SDN List).
It detailed individuals of other nationalities and entities whose assets had been frozen, serving as a reference tool. The publication also provided notice of actions taken against Specially Designated Nationals, whose property and interests were blocked as part of counter-terrorism efforts.
The OFAC report is trending the same day that erstwhile Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, returned to Nigeria through Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following what his party described as “strategic international engagements” in India.
In a video that has since gone viral on social media, Kwankwaso, who the US Congress recommended among persons for targeted sanctions over alleged religious freedom violations in Nigeria, was seen passing through security checks at the Abuja airport.
Decked in a white Babariga paired with his signature Kwankwasiyya cap, the former presidential candidate was received by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed; Kano State deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzo; the senator representing Kano Central, Rufai Hanga; and other key members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
About four days ago, the US Congress called for visa bans and asset freezes on persons and groups accused of violations of religious freedom and persecution of Christians in Nigeria. In a legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 7457), the US lawmakers fingered Kwankwaso; the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria; and Miyetti Allah Kautal.
However, their names did not appear on the February 10 OFAC sanctions list.
Individuals listed include:
Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born August 23, 1990. He was identified as having links to Boko Haram. Yusuf was among six Nigerians convicted in 2022 in the United Arab Emirates for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise 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 listed under terrorism-related sanctions. He was identified under multiple aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Also designated was Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State. He was flagged under terrorism-related sanctions.
Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, also referred to as Habib Yusuf, was identified as a Boko Haram leader and listed with varying birth years between 1990 and 1995.
Khaled (or Khalid) Al-Barnawi, born in 1976 in Maiduguri, appeared twice in the publication and was listed under several aliases, including Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Usman.
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, was identified as holding a Nigerian passport and reportedly residing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He was also linked to Boko Haram.
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki, also known as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, was designated for alleged ties to ISIL.
Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, was listed under CYBER2 sanctions, which target individuals involved in significant malicious cyber-enabled activities. He was also identified as holding a Nigerian passport.
Scope of sanctions
Under the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the listed individuals within US jurisdiction are blocked. American citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
The sanctions were issued pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which targets individuals and entities involved in terrorism and terrorism financing.
It would be recalled that the United States had designated Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013.
According to the US State Department, the group has carried out attacks in northern and northeastern Nigeria, as well as in parts of Cameroon, Chad and Niger within the Lake Chad Basin, resulting in thousands of deaths since 2009.
