The United States government has named a Nigerian national and several businesses among individuals and entities allegedly linked to the financial networks of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as part of efforts to disrupt global terrorism financing.
The sanctions, announced on Monday, affect three individuals and six businesses accused of facilitating the movement of funds across international borders for ISIS operations. The network is said to operate across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa.
According to U.S. authorities, dismantling the financial web is aimed at cutting off resources used by ISIS to carry out attacks, support regional affiliates, and threaten civilian populations, including religious minorities.
The U.S. government identified the Nigerian suspect as Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu, who is alleged to have links with ISIS-West Africa. Authorities said Adamu operated money exchange businesses that served as channels for moving funds connected to the terrorist group.
Born on August 2, 1990, according to U.S. records, Adamu is reported to reside in the Agege area of Lagos State.
Also designated were Syrian national Abdelhakim Boukich, also known as Babili Muhammad, and French national Abderrahmane Miloud, also known as Ghazi Ibrahim. Both were linked by U.S. authorities to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The United States alleged that Boukich used cryptocurrency transactions to transfer funds on behalf of ISIS-linked actors, while Miloud was accused of providing information on explosives to ISIS supporters.
Treasury Lists Terrorism-Linked Businesses
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published details of the individuals and businesses designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
Among the companies linked to Adamu are:
- General Currency Bureau De Change Limited, Lagos, incorporated on January 9, 2019, with Registration Number RC 1555604.
- Manhattan Bureau De Change, located on Murtala Mohammed Way, Kano, incorporated on January 26, 2021, with Registration Number RC 1763824.
- Nine To Nine Exchange Bureau De Change, situated at the FAAN Complex, Airport Road, Lagos, incorporated on August 22, 2017, with Registration Number RC 1462752.
US Reaffirms Partnership With Nigeria
The U.S. government reaffirmed its security partnership with Nigeria, highlighting cooperation in counterterrorism operations.
Washington referenced the joint operation conducted on May 16, 2026, which led to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-highest-ranking ISIS official.
According to the U.S. State Department, sustained pressure on ISIS has forced the group to decentralise its operations and increasingly depend on financial intermediaries to maintain connections across its global network.
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“We will continue to use every diplomatic and legal tool available to hold ISIS and its supporters accountable—wherever they operate and however they move money,” the State Department said in a statement.
The latest sanctions form part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign against international terrorism financing, targeting individuals and businesses suspected of enabling extremist groups to access and transfer funds across multiple jurisdictions.
U.S. officials said disrupting financial channels remains a key strategy in weakening ISIS’s operational capabilities and limiting its ability to sustain activities around the world.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.