The United States government has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of links to Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The action was outlined in a February 10 document released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The publication lists individuals and entities whose assets are blocked under U.S. counter-terrorism and cybercrime sanctions.
According to OFAC, all property and financial interests belonging to designated individuals within U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and Americans are generally barred from conducting transactions with them.
Nigerians named in the sanctions
Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf. He was convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 with five others for establishing a Boko Haram funding cell in Dubai that attempted to channel $782,000 to Nigeria.
Also sanctioned is Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, identified under multiple aliases.
Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, reportedly born in Maiduguri, Borno State, was listed under terrorism-related measures.
Senior Boko Haram leader Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, also known as Habib Yusuf, was sanctioned as well.
Khaled Al-Barnawi, born in Maiduguri and listed under several aliases, appeared twice in the document.
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, reportedly residing in Abu Dhabi, was also designated.
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki was identified as having connections to ISIL.
In a separate designation, Nnamdi Orson Benson was listed under cyber-related sanctions.
Legal basis and wider context
The measures were issued under Executive Order 13224, which targets individuals and entities involved in terrorism or its financing.
The development comes amid renewed scrutiny in Washington over Nigeria’s human rights record. U.S. lawmakers have recently proposed visa bans and asset freezes against Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore over alleged religious-freedom violations.
In October 2025, Donald Trump announced Nigeria would again be placed on the U.S. State Department list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” citing alleged persecution of Christians. Nigeria had previously been designated in 2020 but was removed in 2021 under Joe Biden.
The United States formally designated Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organization in 2013, citing its violent campaign across northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.
