The United States has frozen the assets and properties of eight Nigerians accused of having links to the Islamic sect Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The sanctions were detailed in a 3,000 page document released on February 10 by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The document, titled the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List”, SDN List, outlines individuals and entities subject to United States sanctions.
It also includes individuals sanctioned for cybercrime related offences and other security threats.
The development followed recommendations by the United States Congress for visa bans and asset freezes on persons and groups accused of violations of religious freedom and persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Last year, United States President Donald Trump declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern.
Nigerians listed under the Treasury sanctions face asset freezes under Executive Order 13224.
Among those designated is Salih Yusuf Adamu, also known as Salihu Yusuf, born August 23, 1990.
He was identified as having links to Boko Haram. Yusuf was among six Nigerians convicted in 2022 in the United Arab Emirates for establishing a Boko Haram cell to raise funds for insurgents in Nigeria.
The group was found guilty of attempting to transfer 782,000 dollars from Dubai to Nigeria.
Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, born March 4, 1953, was listed under terrorism related sanctions. He was identified under multiple aliases, including Wole A. Babestan and Olatunde Irewole Shofeso.
Also designated was Abu Abdullah ibn Umar Al Barnawi, also known as Ba Idrisa, reportedly born between 1989 and 1994 in Maiduguri, Borno State. He was flagged under terrorism related sanctions.
Abu Musab Al Barnawi, also referred to as Habib Yusuf, was identified as a Boko Haram leader and listed with varying birth years between 1990 and 1995.
Nnamdi Orson Benson, born March 21, 1987, in Nigeria, was listed under CYBER2 sanctions and was reported to hold a Nigerian passport.
