The United States government has imposed sanctions on eight Nigerians over alleged ties to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), resulting in the freezing of their assets and properties under US jurisdiction.
The sanctions were detailed in a 3,000-page document released on February 10 by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury.
The publication, titled the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List” (SDN List), identifies individuals and entities subject to US sanctions. In addition to terrorism-related designations, the document also includes names of persons sanctioned for cybercrime and other security-related offenses.
The development follows recommendations by the United States Congress calling for visa restrictions and asset freezes against individuals and groups accused of religious freedom violations and persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Last year, US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
Those listed are subject to asset freezes under Executive Order 13224, which targets individuals linked to terrorism.
Among the Nigerians named is 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 setting up a Boko Haram cell to generate 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 also designated under terrorism-related sanctions. He was listed under several aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Another individual, Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa and reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State, was flagged under terrorism-related sanctions.
Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, also referred to as Habib Yusuf and identified as a Boko Haram leader, was likewise included, with varying birth years recorded between 1990 and 1995.
Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, was designated under CYBER2 sanctions. He was reported to be a Nigerian passport holder and was listed in connection with cyber-related offenses.
