US SLAMS SANCTIONS ON 8 NIGERIANS OVER BOKO HARAM, ISIL TIES: A MAJOR BLOW TO TERROR FINANCING
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE United States government has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of having ties to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Key Issues:
– _”The United States government has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of having ties to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)”_ – OFAC
– _”The action was announced in a sanctions document released over the weekend, running into more than 3,000 pages”_ – OFAC
– Asset Freeze : All property and interests of the listed individuals within US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them
– _”The publication served as formal notice of persons added to its Specially Designated Nationals list, whose assets under U.S. jurisdiction were blocked”_ – OFAC
– Terror Financing : The sanctions aim to disrupt Boko Haram and ISIL’s financial networks and prevent future attacks
– Sanctioned Individuals : Salih Yusuf Adamu (Boko Haram), (terrorism-related sanctions
Others listed included:
Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, identified under multiple aliases; Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa; Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, described as a Boko Haram leader; Khaled Al-Barnawi, linked to the group under various spellings and nicknames; Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, reportedly based in Abu Dhabi; Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Al-Mainuki, sanctioned for alleged ISIL connections; and Nnamdi Orson Benson, who was designated under cybercrime provisions.
Under the sanctions, all property and financial interests belonging to the individuals within U.S. control are frozen, and any dealings with them are strictly prohibited.
OFAC said the measures were being enforced under Executive Order 13224, which targeted terrorism financing and support networks.
Boko Haram has been listed as a foreign terrorist organisation by the U.S. since 2013 due to its involvement in deadly attacks across northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin.
The move also follows recent calls within the U.S. Congress for tougher measures, including visa restrictions and asset freezes, against certain Nigerian political figures and groups over allegations of insecurity and human rights violations.
U.S. authorities said the sanctions were part of broader efforts to disrupt extremist financing channels and strengthen international counterterrorism enforcement.
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