By Our Correspondent
Making good on its promise to combat terrorism in Nigeria and hold its sponsors accountable, the United States has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians over alleged links to extremist groups.
The sanctions, announced in a February 10 release by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), were published in the updated Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, a 3,000-page document detailing individuals and entities subject to U.S. restrictions. Those listed face asset freezes under Executive Order 13224.
Among the designated individuals is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, who was previously convicted in the United Arab Emirates in 2022 for helping establish a Boko Haram fundraising cell that attempted to transfer $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria.
Others named include Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, identified under multiple aliases, and Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Barnawi, reportedly born in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Also sanctioned is Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, described as a Boko Haram leader, while Nnamdi Orson Benson was listed under cybercrime-related sanctions. The document further identifies other individuals linked to terrorism and security threats.
The latest action comes amid ongoing recommendations by the U.S. Congress for visa bans and asset freezes against individuals accused of religious persecution in Nigeria, reinforcing Washington’s stance on counterterrorism and accountability.