The United States government has imposed wide-ranging sanctions on 18 Nigerians and entities for terrorism, cybercrime, and narcotics offences.
The development comes as Washington concurrently deepens military cooperation with Nigeria to counter violent extremist threats.
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Under programmes administered by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), individuals and groups were designated in specialised categories reflecting global terrorism (SDGT), cyber-related threats (CYBER2), and narcotics trafficking (SDNTK).
Boko Haram, Islamic State Affiliates
Among those sanctioned with assets frozen for links to militant organisations were key figures associated with Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa (ISWAP), and Ansaru — groups that have waged violent campaigns in Nigeria’s northeast for over a decade.
Listed under the Specially Designated Global Terrorist regime were Boko Haram’s former leader, Abubakar Shekau, and ISIS-linked commanders Abu Musab al-Barnawi and Khalid al-Barnawi, alongside several associates allegedly tied to insurgent networks.
Also designated were one Salih Yusuf Adamu, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, Surajo Abu Bakr Muhammad, Abdurrahman Ado Musa, and Ali Abbas Usman Jega.
The Nigerian branch of the Society for the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS-Nigeria) was sanctioned for alleged support of extremist operations.
The Treasury also singled out Fawzi Reda Fawaz over ties to Hezbollah-linked activity and sanctioned Amigo Supermarket in Abuja for alleged financial links to Iran-aligned networks.
Cyber-Related, Narcotics Sanctions
In a separate strand of action, five Nigerians — one Nnamdi Orson Benson, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Micheal Olorunyomi, and Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh — were listed under the US CYBER2 regime for their purported roles in major cyber-enabled fraud schemes.
Two individuals, one Wole A. Ogungbuyi and Babestan Oluwole Ademulero, were designated under the Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficking Kingpin framework for alleged international drug trafficking involvement.
Military Collaboration
The sanctions arrive as the United States military has expanded its footprint and cooperation with Nigerian security forces following a series of high-profile interventions.
In December 2025, US forces executed precision strikes against Islamic State-aligned militants in Sokoto State, a move confirmed by Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters as part of broader counter-terror operations.
Since then, additional American personnel have been dispatched to Nigeria under intelligence support and training mandates, including a contingent of roughly 100 troops and equipment arriving in early February 2026 to assist with military training and capacity building.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has described the partnership as respectful of national sovereignty, focused on intelligence, logistics, and professional military education rather than unilateral intervention.
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