…born in Maiduguri between 1989 and 1994
The United States government has seized the property and assets of eight Nigerians accused of having links to extremist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). As such, Washington intensified counterterrorism operations against individuals allegedly financing or supporting insurgent activities.
The action was detailed in a 3,000-page document dated February 10 and released by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The document seen Monday is part of OFAC's updated “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List” (SDN List), which identifies individuals and entities subject to US sanctions.
According to OFAC, the publication serves as official notice of actions taken against specially designated nationals whose property and interests in property are blocked under various US sanctions programs.
The agency said, “This publication from Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control is specifically designed as a reference tool providing factual information about actions by OFAC with respect to designated nationals and other persons … whose assets are blocked, to assist the public in complying with the various sanctions programs administered by OFAC.”
It said the sanctions mean that all assets and interests belonging to the listed individuals within US jurisdiction are frozen.
US persons and entities are also generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
These measures were imposed under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those who provide support to terrorism.
Those listed include Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born 23 August 1990.
He was identified as having links to Boko Haram and holding a Nigerian passport. Yusuf was one of six Nigerians convicted in the UAE in 2022 of setting up a Boko Haram cell in Dubai for the purpose of raising funds for the rebels in Nigeria.
The group was found guilty of attempting to transfer $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria.
Also named under terrorism-related sanctions is Abu Abdullah Ibn Omar al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, who was reportedly born in Maiduguri, Borno State, between 1989 and 1994.
Abu Musab al-Barnawi, also known as Habib Yusuf and identified as a Boko Haram leader, was listed with different birth years between 1990 and 1995.
Khalid (or Khalid) al-Barnawi, born in Maiduguri in 1976, appeared twice in the publication under several aliases, including Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Osman. He was also linked to Boko Haram.
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born 31 January 1981, was listed as living in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and was also linked to Boko Haram activities.
Abu Bakr Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ali al-Mainuki, also known as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, born in Mainok, Borno State in 1982, was identified as having links to ISIL.
In a separate designation, Babaston Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, was listed under the SDNTK (Specially Designated National Terrorist) sanctions list with multiple aliases.
Nnamdi Orson Benson, born 21 March 1987, was listed under CYBER2 sanctions and was accused of engaging in cybercrime related offences. He is also reported to have a Nigerian passport.
The asset freeze action comes amid new pressure from US lawmakers, who recently recommended visa restrictions and asset freezes against some Nigerian individuals and groups accused of religious persecution.
Those recommended for sanctions by members of Congress reportedly include former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as well as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
Although those recommendations differ from the latest OFAC designations, they underscore growing scrutiny in Washington over Nigeria's security and religious freedom record.
The United States formally designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization in 2013.
According to the US State Department, the group has carried out numerous attacks in northern and northeastern Nigeria, as well as in the Lake Chad Basin region covering Cameroon, Chad and Niger, resulting in thousands of deaths since 2009.
Under US law, countries that repeatedly support acts of international terrorism can be designated for fiscal year 2019 under various laws, including the National Defense Authorization Act, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
In October 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that Nigeria would again be added to the US State Department's list of “countries of particular concern” due to allegations of religious persecution.
Nigeria was first designated in 2020 during Trump's previous administration, but was later removed from the list by his successor.
