The United States has reportedly placed eight Nigerians on a fresh sanctions list, freezing their assets and properties over alleged connections to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS).
The action was announced through a document released by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on February 10.
Sanctions Listed in OFAC SDN Document
The names were contained in the updated “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List),” a major reference document used by the United States to identify individuals and organisations under sanctions.
The SDN list includes persons sanctioned for terrorism-related activities, cybercrime, and other security threats.
Why the US Took the Action
The development is coming amid increasing pressure from US lawmakers, following calls from the US Congress for visa bans and asset freezes on individuals and groups accused of religious freedom violations and alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The report also follows earlier international attention on Nigeria after former US President Donald Trump reportedly declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” in relation to religious freedom.
What the Sanctions Mean
Nigerians listed under the OFAC sanctions reportedly face asset freezes under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorism financiers and individuals linked to extremist groups.
Once sanctioned, a person’s assets under US jurisdiction can be blocked, and US persons or institutions may be prohibited from doing business with them.
Nigerians Mentioned in the List
Some of the Nigerians reportedly listed include:
- Salih Yusuf Adamu (Salihu Yusuf) — alleged Boko Haram-linked figure. He was reportedly among Nigerians convicted in the UAE in 2022 for establishing a Boko Haram fundraising cell.
- Babestan Oluwole Ademulero — listed under terrorism-related sanctions and reportedly identified with multiple aliases.
- Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi (Ba Idrisa) — flagged under terrorism-related sanctions.
- Abu Musab Al-Barnawi (Habib Yusuf) — reportedly identified as a Boko Haram leader.
- Nnamdi Orson Benson — listed under CYBER2 sanctions, reportedly connected to cybercrime-related offences.
More Names Expected in Full Document
The OFAC SDN list is a large database containing thousands of sanctioned individuals globally, and the latest update reportedly includes more entities beyond Nigeria, covering terrorism and cybercrime categories.
As of the time of this report, official reactions from Nigerian authorities have not been widely reported.
More details shortly…
