The United States government has identified a Nigerian citizen and three Nigeria-based companies in a new round of sanctions targeting individuals and entities accused of facilitating financial transactions for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Department of State, form part of a broader action against three individuals and six organisations allegedly involved in moving funds for ISIS operations across different regions of the world.
According to a statement issued by U.S. State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott, the affected network operates across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa, helping the terrorist group transfer money across international borders.
Pigott said the latest measures target a France-based operative accused of providing information on explosives to ISIS supporters, a Syria-based facilitator alleged to have used cryptocurrency to transfer funds for ISIS-linked individuals in several countries, including the United States, and a Nigerian-based operator whose currency exchange businesses allegedly served as channels for terrorist financing.
The Nigerian named in the sanctions is Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, also known as Mukhtar Adamu. U.S. authorities linked him to ISIS-West Africa and listed several identifying details, including Nigerian passport records and a Lagos address.
Three Nigerian firms were also included in the sanctions list. They are Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited in Lagos, Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited in Kano, and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited in Ikeja, Lagos. U.S. authorities alleged that the companies were connected to financial activities associated with Muhammad and the wider ISIS network.
Other entities sanctioned include companies operating in Türkiye and Syria that were allegedly involved in money transfer and cryptocurrency exchange services used by ISIS affiliates.
The U.S. government stated that the sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those who support their activities. The order allows authorities to block assets and restrict financial transactions linked to designated individuals and organisations.
Washington also reaffirmed its security partnership with Nigeria, highlighting the joint operation conducted on May 16, 2026, that led to the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-highest-ranking official within ISIS.
Pigott stressed that the United States would continue to employ diplomatic, financial, and legal measures to disrupt terrorist financing networks worldwide.
He added that the U.S. remains committed to working with international partners to combat ISIS and safeguard global security, while holding those who provide support to the terrorist group accountable.
ISIS, formerly known as al-Qa’ida in Iraq, was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation by the United States in 2004.
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