US Freezes Assets of Eight Nigerians Over Alleged Terrorism, Cybercrime Links
The United States government has imposed sanctions on eight Nigerians accused of having links to Boko Haram, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and cybercrime activities.
The sanctions were detailed in a document dated February 10 and released by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The publication forms part of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, which identifies individuals and entities whose assets have been frozen as part of counterterrorism and security measures.
According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the list serves as a reference tool providing notice of actions taken against designated individuals whose property and interests are blocked in order to prevent financial transactions with them.
Among those listed is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born August 23, 1990. He was identified as having ties to Boko Haram and was reported to hold a Nigerian passport. Yusuf was among six Nigerians convicted in 2022 in the United Arab Emirates for setting up a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria. The group was found guilty of attempting to send 782,000 dollars from Dubai to Nigeria.
Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, was also designated under terrorism related sanctions. He appeared under several aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, was listed under terrorism sanctions. He was reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abu Musab Al Barnawi, also referred to as Habib Yusuf, was identified as a Boko Haram leader and sanctioned under terrorism provisions.
Khaled Al Barnawi, also known as Khalid Al Barnawi, born in 1976 in Maiduguri, was linked to Boko Haram and listed under multiple aliases, including Abu Hafsat and Mohammed Usman.
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, born January 31, 1981, was reported to reside in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and was also linked to Boko Haram.
Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al Mainuki, also known as Abu Bilal Al Minuki, born in 1982 in Mainok, Borno State, was identified as having ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, was listed under cyber related sanctions.
Under the sanctions, all property and interests of the designated individuals within United States jurisdiction are blocked, and United States persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
The United States designated Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013. The group has been blamed for numerous attacks in northern and northeastern Nigeria and in parts of the Lake Chad Basin, resulting in thousands of deaths since 2009.
The sanctions are issued under Executive Order 13224 as part of Washington’s continued efforts to combat terrorism financing and cyber threats.
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