Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a major development on February 16, 2026, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on eight Nigerian nationals alleged to have ties to extremist organisations and cyber-related criminal activities, freezing their assets and restricting financial engagement with U.S. individuals and entities. The move, announced by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), forms part of broader U.S. counter-terrorism and cybercrime enforcement efforts aimed at disrupting transnational networks that facilitate financing, logistics and online criminality linked to violent groups and cyber threats.
According to the release, the sanctions are contained in a 3,000-page document published by OFAC and designate the eight Nigerians as Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs). This designation effectively blocks any property and interests they may hold within U.S. jurisdiction, and prevents U.S. persons from undertaking financial or commercial transactions with them without Treasury authorisation. The action reflects longstanding U.S. initiatives to cut off financial support and operational channels for international terrorism and cybercrime.
The individuals named in the U.S. sanctions list reportedly include persons allegedly associated with Boko Haram, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and cybercrime networks. Among the prominent names are Salih Yusuf Adamu, who was previously convicted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022 for operating a Boko Haram cell that attempted to transfer large sums of money to insurgent fighters, and other Boko Haram leaders including Abu Musab Al-Barnawi and Khaled Al-Barnawi. These designations highlight the U.S. Treasury’s emphasis on targeting individuals with alleged roles in terrorist financing and support infrastructure.
The list released by the Treasury also includes a Nigerian-born individual sanctioned under U.S. cybercrime provisions, underscoring the perceived convergence between extremist activity and cyber-enabled criminality. Although specific operational details were not fully disclosed in the public-facing summaries, the inclusion of this category signifies that authorities are using financial sanctions as a tool not only against violent extremist networks but also those engaged in high-level online fraud and digital crime that can facilitate illicit flows and undermine international financial systems.
The U.S. government’s action is anchored in existing counter-terrorism statutes, notably Executive Order 13224, which authorises the blocking of property and interests of individuals and entities determined to be involved in terrorism or terrorist financing. Under this framework, the Treasury can block property, prohibit financial transactions and direct U.S. persons and firms to cease dealings with designated subjects. By imposing these restrictions, U.S. authorities aim to isolate the named individuals from global financial markets and disrupt their ability to mobilise resources.
Washington’s designation of these Nigerians occurs amid sustained U.S. concerns about the operations of extremist groups in West Africa, particularly Boko Haram and its later-generation affiliates, which have been formally designated as foreign terrorist organisations by the U.S. State Department since 2013. Boko Haram’s insurgency has been linked to widespread violence, displacement and insecurity across northeastern Nigeria and in the broader Lake Chad Basin, contributing to international counter-terrorism cooperation involving the United States and regional partners.
The latest sanctions also align with ongoing U.S. focus on cybercrime as a national security threat. U.S. law enforcement and financial regulators have increasingly highlighted the role of cybercrime syndicates in exploiting digital platforms to commit fraud, launder illicit proceeds and undermine financial systems. While the specific cyber-related actions linked to the eight Nigerians have not been elaborated in full in publicly available sources, their inclusion underlines U.S. authorities’ intent to disrupt individuals and networks that mix terrorist facilitation with cyber-enabled criminality.
Critically, U.S. sanctions do not constitute criminal convictions; they are administrative measures that target individuals based on assessed risks to national security or foreign policy interests. Those designated may seek review or removal from the list through established procedures if they believe the designation was erroneous or circumstances have changed. Meanwhile, global financial institutions often adhere to U.S. sanctions to mitigate legal and reputational risks, meaning that sanctioned persons can face significant practical restrictions on international business and travel.
Although the Nigerian government had not issued an immediate official response by the time of reporting, past engagements show that Nigerian authorities and U.S. agencies have cooperated in counter-terrorism and financial intelligence efforts. The implications of the sanctions are expected to reverberate through diplomatic channels, particularly given the complex interplay of regional security challenges, transnational crime and international law enforcement cooperation.
The U.S. Treasury’s action underscores Washington’s sustained priority on disrupting financial and logistical support for terrorist organisations as well as leveraging sanctions tools against emerging cyber threats. As these designations unfold, the efficacy of such measures in constraining extremist and criminal networks will continue to be assessed within broader international security frameworks.
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