Washington, D.C. – The United States government has taken decisive action by freezing the U.S.-based financial assets and accounts of eight Nigerian nationals, accusing them of links to terrorism, extremist groups and cyber-related offences. The move, announced in a 3,000-page publication by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on February 10, 2026, blocks any property and financial interests these individuals hold under U.S. jurisdiction and bars American persons and institutions from conducting transactions with them.
The sanctions underscore Washington’s intensifying focus on disrupting financial networks that support violent extremist organisations and cyber threats emerging from Nigeria and abroad. The action comes amid broader geopolitical tensions, including congressional recommendations for additional visa bans and asset freezes related to religious freedom concerns in Nigeria.
Full List of Affected Individuals
Below are the eight Nigerians whose U.S. assets are now frozen under the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons List:
- Salih Yusuf Adamu (aka Salihu Yusuf) – Linked to financing activities for Boko Haram; convicted alongside others in the UAE.
- Babestan Oluwole Ademulero (aliases: Wole A. Babestan, Olatunde Irewole Shofeso) – Sanctioned under terrorism-related provisions.
- Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi (aka Ba Idrisa) – Boko Haram associated individual.
- Abu Musab Al-Barnawi (aka Habib Yusuf) – Identified as a leader within Boko Haram.
- Khaled (or Khalid) Al-Barnawi (aliases: Abu Hafsat, Mohammed Usman) – Boko Haram affiliate.
- Ibrahim Ali Alhassan – Associated with Boko Haram and reported to reside in the United Arab Emirates.
- Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Mainuki (aka Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki) – Linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
- Nnamdi Orson Benson – Designated under CYBER2 sanctions for alleged cybercrime-related activities.
- What the Sanctions Mean
Individuals on the OFAC SDN list have all their property and financial interests within the United States blocked. U.S. persons — including financial institutions — are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, effectively isolating them from the U.S. financial system.
The sanctions are implemented under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those who provide support to terrorist groups, as well as financial facilitators of criminal networks.
Analysts say this action reflects a broader U.S. strategic effort to sever terrorism financing and cybercrime networks tied to Nigeria and the Sahel region. The inclusion of Boko Haram and ISIL-linked names highlights ongoing security concerns about extremist financing mechanisms that transcend national borders.