The US blacklisted a Nigerian company and three local companies over alleged ISIS funding networks

The United States government has added a Nigerian citizen and three Nigerian-based companies to its list of newly sanctioned individuals and businesses for allegedly facilitating financial transactions linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The designation is part of a broader crackdown targeting international networks accused of moving funds for the terrorist organization across regions, including Europe, the Middle East and West Africa.

In the latest sanctions action, Washington identified three individuals and six entities it claimed played various roles in supporting ISIS-linked financial operations and cross-border fund transfers.

Announcing the action, US State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott said the operation targeted actors spread across France, Syria, Turkey and Nigeria, and described them as part of a network used to funnel resources to terrorist groups.

“Today’s designations target three individuals and six entities operating in Europe, the Middle East and West Africa who have enabled ISIS to move money across borders – exposing a network that stretches from France and Syria to Turkey and Nigeria.

“Among those named were a France-based facilitator who provided information regarding the use of explosives to ISIS supporters, a Syria-based operator who used cryptocurrency to transfer funds on behalf of ISIS associates in many countries, including the United States, and a Nigeria-based facilitator whose money exchange business served as an ISIS funding conduit,” the statement added.

In subsequent disclosures released on Monday, US authorities published the identities of all individuals and companies affected by the sanctions.

The Nigerian listed in the sanctions notice was identified as Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, also known as Mukhtar Adamu and Muhammad Mukhtar. US authorities linked it to ISIS-West Africa and alleged that several businesses associated with it were used in financial transactions that benefited the extremist organization.

The sanctions also extend to three Bureau De Change operators registered in Nigeria. Two of the companies are based in Lagos State, while one company operates in Kano State.

The Nigerian companies on the sanctions list are Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited, and Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited.

Other entities sanctioned under the measure include Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi and Spider Gayrimenkul ve Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi, both based in Türkiye, as well as Coin Exchange No.1 Idlib Bitcoin Exchange Agent in Syria.

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The US government also highlighted ongoing security cooperation with Nigeria, noting that the two countries cooperated during a military operation conducted on May 16, 2026, which reportedly led to the death of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by American authorities as the second-in-command of ISIS.

Pigott emphasized that the United States will continue to deploy all available diplomatic and legal mechanisms to disrupt terrorist financing and dismantle the support structures that aid ISIS globally.

“We will continue to use every diplomatic and legal tool available to hold ISIS and its supporters accountable – wherever they operate and however they channel their money. We remain fully committed to protecting American lives, defending religious minorities, and working with international partners to eliminate ISIS’s threat to global peace and security,” he said.

According to the statement, the sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, as amended, a framework used by the US government to target individuals and organizations accused of involvement in terrorism.

The statement further noted that ISIS, previously known as al-Qaeda in Iraq, was officially designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization in 2004.

United States Designated Individuals

– Abdelhakim Boukich (also known as Abu Sulayman Alholandi and Muhammad Babili) – Netherlands/Syria
– Miloud Abderrahmane (also known as Ibrahim Ghazi) – France
– Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad (also known as Mukhtar Adamu and Muhammad Mukhtar) – Nigeria

Entity Added to Sanctions List

– Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi – Türkiye
– Coin Exchange No.1 Bitcoin Exchange Agent in Idlib – Syria
– Currency Generation Bureau De Change Limited – Nigeria
– Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited – Nigeria
– Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited – Nigeria
– Spider Gayrimenkul and Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi – Türkiye