Nigeria's Federal Government Unveils Sanctioned List of Terrorism Financiers in 2026
In a significant move to combat extremist activities, Nigeria's Federal Government has published an updated sanctioned list of individuals accused of financing or supporting terrorist organizations. This announcement, made in 2026, highlights the ongoing efforts to disrupt the financial and logistical networks that sustain groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, and ANSARU across Nigeria and beyond.
Key Individuals and Their Alleged Roles
The sanctioned list includes several prominent names, each with specific accusations related to terrorism financing. Below are some of the key individuals and the reasons for their designation:
- Abdulkarim Ohida – Identified as a senior commander of ISWAP Okene, he is suspected of involvement in attacks including the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo and the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
- Mohammed Sani – Linked to ANSARU and trained under Muktar Belmokhtar, he is an IED expert who escaped from Kuje Correctional Centre and remains at large.
- Fatima Ovayioza Ishaq – Accused of acting as a financial courier for ISWAP Okene, disbursing funds to widows and wives of terrorist fighters.
- Tukur Muhammad Mamu – Allegedly facilitated ransom payments over $200,000 for ISWAP terrorists, related to the Abuja-Kaduna train attack hostages.
- Yusuf Ghazali – Reported to have transferred millions of naira to convicted terrorists and owned businesses in the UAE that facilitated fund transfers from Dubai to Nigeria.
- Abubakar Adamu Muhammad (Yellow) – Involved in large-scale financing with account inflows of ₦61.4 billion and outflows of ₦51.7 billion, including transfers to convicted terrorists.
- Sallamudeen Abdullahi Hassan – Described as a top ISWAP member who coordinated finances through cryptocurrency and online scams, such as dating fraud and COVID-19 palliative scams.
- Adamu Ishak – Accused of buying land and property in Jigawa and Kaduna States to support ISWAP operations.
- Hassana Oyiza Isah – Wife of an ISWAP commander, she allegedly received and distributed money to the wives of ISWAP fighters.
- Abdulkareem Musa – A top commander of ISWAP cells in central and southern Nigeria, previously managed an ISWAP-owned bakery in Okene before being jailed.
- Umar Abdullahi – A grain merchant in Kano State who oversees ISWAP's farm in Doma, Kebbi State, serving as a logistics provider.
- Abdurrahman Musa Ado, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, Muhammad Ibrahim Isah, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Surajo Abubakar Muhammad, and Fannami Alhajji Bukar – These individuals were convicted in Abu Dhabi for financing Boko Haram, with sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for collecting and transferring funds from Dubai to Nigeria.
Background and Implications
The sanctions, which reference earlier actions in March 2024 and November 2022, reveal the complex and cross-border nature of terrorism financing in Nigeria. The list spans various roles, from commanders and logistics providers to financial couriers and large-scale funders, underscoring the multifaceted support systems for extremist groups.
This move is part of broader government initiatives to strengthen national security and combat terrorism financing. In addition to individual sanctions, the Federal Government has also published an updated list of Nigerian companies sanctioned for terrorism financing in 2026, further targeting the economic underpinnings of terrorist activities.
The publication of this list serves as a warning to those involved in supporting terrorism and highlights the government's commitment to using legal and financial measures to disrupt these networks. It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation, as seen in the convictions abroad, in addressing global terrorism threats.
