By Sochima Agbo

The United States government has imposed sanctions on a Nigerian national and three Nigeria-based companies over alleged involvement in financing activities linked to the Islamic State (ISIS), in a move aimed at disrupting the terrorist group's international financial network.

The action, announced by the U.S. Department of State, forms part of a wider crackdown targeting three individuals and six entities accused of facilitating the movement of funds for ISIS across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa.

Among those designated is Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, a Nigerian citizen alleged to have links with ISIS-West Africa. U.S. authorities identified him as a key figure in a network accused of supporting the terrorist organisation’s financial operations. The designation includes details of his Nigerian passport and residential address in Lagos State.

Also sanctioned are three Nigerian bureau de change firms - 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. According to U.S. authorities, the companies were allegedly involved in financial transactions connected to Mukhtar Adamu and the broader ISIS financing network.

The sanctions list also includes foreign individuals and companies operating in Türkiye and Syria, which the U.S. government claims provided money transfer, exchange and cryptocurrency services used to facilitate the movement of funds for ISIS operatives.

Announcing the measures, U.S. State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott said the designations expose a transnational financial network stretching from France and Syria to Türkiye and Nigeria.

“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,” Pigott said.

He added that the United States would continue to deploy diplomatic, legal and financial tools to combat terrorist financing and dismantle networks supporting extremist groups.

“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 stated.

The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, as amended, a key U.S. counterterrorism measure that authorises the designation of individuals and organisations accused of supporting terrorist activities. ISIS has been listed by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation since 2004.

Under the sanctions, any assets belonging to the designated individuals and entities that fall within U.S. jurisdiction may be frozen, while U.S. citizens and businesses are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

The latest action underscores growing international efforts to disrupt terrorist financing channels and curb the operational capacity of extremist groups operating across multiple regions.