US Freezes Assets of Eight Nigerians Over Alleged Ties to Boko Haram, ISIL

The United States government has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of having links to the extremist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The action was detailed in a 3,000-page document dated February 10 and released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The publication, titled “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List,” outlines individuals and entities whose assets have been blocked under U.S. counter-terrorism and cybercrime sanctions regimes.

According to OFAC, the list serves as formal notice of sanctions actions, warning that all property and interests in property of designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. American citizens and institutions are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

The Designated Individuals

Among the Nigerians listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born August 23, 1990. He was previously convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 alongside five others for setting up a Boko Haram cell in Dubai to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria. The group was found guilty of attempting to channel $782,000 to Nigeria.

Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, was also designated under terrorism sanctions. He appeared under multiple aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.

Also sanctioned is Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, also known as Habib Yusuf and identified as a senior Boko Haram leader, was listed with varying birth years between 1990 and 1995.

Khaled Al-Barnawi, whose name appeared twice in the document, was born in 1976 in Maiduguri. He was listed under several aliases, including Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Usman, and linked to Boko Haram activities.

Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, and reportedly residing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was also sanctioned for alleged ties to the group.

Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki, also known as Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, was identified as having connections to ISIL.

In a separate designation, Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, was listed under cyber-related sanctions.

The sanctions were issued pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which targets individuals and entities involved in terrorism and its financing.

Background on US-Nigeria Relations

The development comes amid renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights record in Washington. In October 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Nigeria would again be placed on the U.S. State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” citing alleged persecution of Christians. Nigeria was first designated under the category in 2020 but was removed from the list in 2021 under former President Joe Biden.

U.S. lawmakers recently recommended visa bans and asset freezes against former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, over alleged religious freedom violations.

The United States formally designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2013, citing its campaign of violence across northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.