“US EXPOSES BOKO HARAM, ISIL SPONSORS IN NIGERIA: ASSETS FROZEN, VISA BAN IMPOSED “
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE United States government has revealed the identities of Nigerians sponsoring Boko Haram and ISIL, freezing their assets and imposing a lifetime visa ban.
Key Issues:
– _”The United States government has disclosed the identities, names, and positions of all Nigerians who are terrorists’ financiers or sponsors who played different roles in sundry, dangerous activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL, in Nigeria.”_
– Suspects Identified: 10 Hausas, 3 Igbos, 4 Yorubas mentioned in the Centralized Master list.
– _”Assets, Bank Accounts Frozen, banned for life from receiving American Visa: The United States document confirmed that various hidden bank accounts, stocks and crypto currency details of these bandits’ sponsors and the mode of operation for transportation of funds by wireless transfer or courier were busted.”_
– Sanctions Imposed: US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions individuals and organizations for cybercrime-related offences and security threats.
– _”The US government also sanctioned some individuals and organisations for cybercrime-related offences and other security threats.”_
The sanction means all property and interests of these individuals and entities within US jurisdiction are blocked under Executive Order 13224, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
Placed on INTERPOL Red Flag, FBI spreads intelligence for apprehension:
All these individuals indicted by the United States government have been placed on the Red Notice of the International Police, INTERPOL, as the Federal Bureau of Intelligence, FBI spread intelligence for apprehension for their live capture.
Our correspondent gathered that these suspects’ mobile phones, movements, lifestyle are presently under the global radar and scrutiny within Nigeria to other parts of Africa.
CIA steps up undercover operations to crack terrorists’ network:
Meanwhile, the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, sends a set of senior anti-terrorists’ law enforcement officers to come in company of 100 U.S. troops a few days ago into Nigeria with the purpose of stepping up undercover operations to crack terrorists’ network and bring the bandits to book.
Nigerians Currently Sanctioned by the US:
Khalid al‑Barnawi:
Also known as: AL-BARNAWI, Khaled; BARNAWI, Khalid; EL-BARNAOUI, Khaled; HAFSAT, Abu; USMAN, Mohammed
Date of birth: 1976
Place of birth: Maiduguri, Nigeria
Offence/Program: Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) -linked to Boko Haram/terrorism
Abubakar Shekau:
Also known as: BIN MOHAMMED, Abu Mohammed Abubakar; BI MUHAMMED, Abu Muhammed Abubakar; SHEHU; SHAYKU; SHEKAU
Date of birth: 1969
Place of birth: Shekau Village, Yobe State, Nigeria
Offence/Program: SDGT-leader associated with Boko Haram
Abu Musab al‑Barnawi:
Also known as: YUSUF, Habib
Date of birth: 1991 (multiple alternate DOBs listed by OFAC)
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: SDGT- Boko Haram affiliate/leader
Abu Bakr al‑Mainuki:
Also known as: AL-MINUKI, Abu-Bilal; MAINOK, Abor; MAINOK, Abubakar
Date of birth: 1982
Place of birth: Mainok, Benisheikh, Borno State, Nigeria
Offence/Program: SDGT-linked to ISIL
Salihu Yusuf Adamu:
Also known as: ADAMU, Salih Yusuf
Date of birth: 23 Aug 1990
Place of birth: Nigeria; current location: Abu Dhabi
Offence/Program: SDGT-linked to Boko Haram
Surajo Abubakar Muhammad:
Also known as: MUHAMMAD, Surajo Abu Bakr
Date of birth: 3 Jul 1979
Place of birth: Nigeria; current location: Abu Dhabi
Offence/Program: SDGT-linked to Boko Haram
Abdurrahman Ado Musa:
Also known as: MUSA, Abdurrahman Ado
Date of birth: 23 Apr 1984
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: SDGT- linked to Boko Haram
Bashir Ali Yusuf:
Date of birth: 7 Aug 1984
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: SDGT-linked to Boko Haram
Ibrahim Ali Alhassan:
Date of birth: 31 Jan 1981
Place of birth: Nigeria; current location: Abu Dhabi
Offence/Program: SDGT-linked to Boko Haram
Nnamdi Orson Benson:
Date of birth: 21 Mar 1987
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: OFAC cyber designation (CYBER2)
Abiola Ayorinde Kayode:
Date of birth: 14 Nov 1987
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: OFAC cyber designation (CYBER2)
Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin:
Date of birth: 23 Feb 1983
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: OFAC cyber designation (CYBER2)
Felix Osilama Okpoh:
Date of birth: 9 Mar 1989
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: OFAC cyber designation (CYBER2)
Micheal Olorunyomi:
Date of birth: 12 May 1983
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: OFAC cyber designation (CYBER2)
Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh:
Date of birth: 29 Apr 1986
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: OFAC cyber designation (CYBER2)
Ali Abbas Usman Jega:
Also known as: JEGA, Ali Abbas Usman; HASSAN, Ali Abbas Othman; JEGA, Abbas
Date of birth: 1965
Address: Abuja, Nigeria
Offence/Program: SDGT
Abeni O. Ogunbiyi:
Also known as: BABESTAN, Abeni O.; SHOFESO, Olatutu Temitope
Date of birth: 30 Jun 1952
Place of birth: Nigeria
Offence/Program: SDNTK
Organisations Currently Sanctioned by the US (Nigeria-Based):
Boko Haram:
Also known as: JAMA’ATU AHLIS-SUNNAH LIDDA’AWATI WAL-JIHAD; Nigerian Taliban
Offence/Program: Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT-terrorism
Ansaru:
Also known as: ANSARUL MUSLIMINA FI BILADIS SUDAN; Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa
Offence/Program: FTO and SDGT- terrorism
Amigo Supermarket Limited, Kafak Enterprises Limited, Wonderland Amusement Park and Resort Ltd:
Program: SDGT- linked to individuals designated by OFAC
Organisations with alleged Nigerian affiliations:
Aurum Ship Management FZC
Program: SDGT-linked to designated individuals
ISIS-West Africa (ISIS-WA)
Program: FTO and SDGT- terrorism
Jammal Trust Bank S.A.L.:
Program: SDGT- linked to Hizballah
According to OFAC, the list serves as a reference tool, providing notice of actions taken against Specially Designated Nationals, whose property and interests are blocked as part of its counter-terrorism efforts.
“This publication of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, is designed as a reference tool providing actual notice of actions by OFAC with respect to Specially Designated Nationals and other persons (which term includes both individuals and entities) whose property is blocked, to assist the public in complying with the various sanctions programmes administered by OFAC,” the agency said.
The inclusion of these names in the OFAC list underscores Washington’s continued focus on countering terrorism financing and cyber threats.
The pronouncement comes on the heels of recent recommendations by the US Congress for visa bans and asset freezes on persons and groups accused of violations of religious freedom and persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria; and Miyetti Allah Kautal were recommended by United States lawmakers for visa bans and asset freezes.
In October 2025, for the second time, US President Donald Trump announced that Nigeria would be added to the Department of State’s “Countries of Particular Concern” list for religious freedom, alleging persecution of Christians by Muslims. Nigeria was first designated in 2020 under Trump but was removed by President Joe Biden shortly after assuming office.
SOURCE==NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER==EXCEPT THE HEADLINE AND INTRO PLUS A FEW PARAGRAPHS
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