FULL LIST: US Freezes Assets, Properties Of Nigerians Linked With Ansaru, Boko Haram, Others
The United States has frozen the assets and properties of several Nigerians accused of links to the Islamic sects Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The US government also sanctioned some individuals and organisations for cybercrime-related offences and other security threats.
This was detailed in a 3,000-page document updated by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on February 10.
Checks by our correspondent on Monday show that the list features over 20 Nigerians and organisations operating in the country.
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.
Nigerians Currently Sanctioned by the USKhalid 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 ISILSalihu 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 MusaAlso known as: MUSA, Abdurrahman Ado Date of birth: 23 Apr 1984 Place of birth: Nigeria Offence/Program: SDGT — linked to Boko Haram
Bashir Ali YusufDate 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. Ogungbuyi 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 FZCProgram: SDGT — linked to designated individualsISIS-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.
