The United States Government has designated a Nigerian citizen and three Nigeria-based companies for their alleged involvement in a financial network linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The action was announced by the US Department of State as part of a wider sanctions measure targeting three individuals and six entities accused of facilitating the movement of funds for ISIS across several regions, including Europe, the Middle East and West Africa.
In a statement, US Department of State spokesperson, Thomas Pigott, said the designations were aimed at disrupting an international financial network allegedly used by the terrorist organisation.
“Today’s designations target three individuals and six entities operating across Europe, the Middle East and West Africa who have enabled ISIS to move money across borders, exposing a network that spans from France and Syria to Türkiye and Nigeria,” Pigott said.
Among those designated is Nigerian national, Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, also identified as Mukhtar Adamu and Muhammad Mukhtar. According to the US authorities, Muhammad is linked to ISIS-West Africa and allegedly played a role in facilitating financial transactions for the group.
The US also designated three Nigerian companies allegedly connected to Muhammad’s financial activities. They are Generation Currency Bureau de Change Limited, Lagos; Manhattan Bureau de Change Limited, Kano; and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau de Change Limited, Ikeja, Lagos.
The sanctions list further includes two Turkey-based entities – Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi and Spider Gayrimenkul ve Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi – as well as Syria-based Bitcoin Exchange Agent Idlib’s No.1 Coin Exchange.
Also designated were two European nationals accused of supporting ISIS financial operations. They are Abdelhakim Boukich, a Dutch national, and Miloud Abderrahmane, a French citizen.
Pigott stated that the United States would continue to deploy diplomatic and legal measures to disrupt the activities of ISIS and its supporters worldwide.
“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. We remain fully committed to protecting American lives, defending religious minorities and working with international partners to eliminate the threat that ISIS poses to global peace and security,” he said.
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, as amended, which authorises the US government to target individuals and organisations involved in terrorism and terrorist financing.
ISIS has been designated by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organisation since 2004.
The sanctions typically result in the freezing of any assets under US jurisdiction and prohibit American individuals and entities from conducting transactions with those listed.