The United States has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of links to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
This action is detailed in a 3,000-page document dated February 10, released by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and reviewed by the press on Monday. The document also names individuals sanctioned for cybercrime and other security threats.
The sanctions follow recommendations from the U.S. Congress for visa bans and asset freezes targeting individuals and groups accused of violating religious freedom and persecuting Christians in Nigeria. Among those recommended for visa bans and asset freezes are the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and Miyetti Allah Kautal.
OFAC’s publication, titled Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, identifies individuals and entities of various nationalities whose assets have been frozen as part of counter-terrorism measures. It also serves as a reference for actions taken against Specially Designated Nationals, whose property and interests are blocked.
According to OFAC, the move is part of broader efforts to block the property and interests of individuals designated as threats and to prevent financial dealings with them. This publication… is designed as a reference tool providing actual notice of actions by OFAC… whose property is blocked, to assist the public in complying with various sanctions programmes, the agency stated.
Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born August 23, 1990. Yusuf, identified as having ties to Boko Haram, was among six Nigerians convicted in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram cell in the United Arab Emirates to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria, attempting to send $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria.
Other individuals designated include:
- Babestan Oluwole Ademulero (Wole A. Babestan/Olatunde Irewole Shofeso), born March 4, 1953, under SDNTK sanctions
- Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi (Ba Idrisa), reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State, flagged under terrorism-related sanctions
- Abu Musab Al-Barnawi (Habib Yusuf), born between 1990 and 1995, identified as a Boko Haram leader
- Khaled (or Khalid) Al-Barnawi (Abu Hafsat/Mohammed Usman), born 1976 in Maiduguri, linked to Boko Haram
- Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, reported to reside in Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki (Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki), born 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, linked to ISIL
- Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, listed under cybercrime-related sanctions
