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Written by Lizzy Chakupi
As the US government ramps up its crackdown on terrorist financing and cybercrime linked to Nigeria, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has emerged among prominent Nigerians implicated in US sanctions that have devastated companies such as Amigo Supermarkets Limited and Wonderland Amusement Park and Resorts Ltd.
The United States announced the expected financial restrictions through an updated sanctions registry published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on February 10th.
The measure blocks all property and economic interests of designated individuals and entities within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from doing business with them.
“All property of the designated persons and their ownership interests are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from doing business with the designated persons,” OFAC said.
Those listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) include Khalid al-Barnawi, Abubakar Shekau, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, Salih Yusuf Adam, Suraho Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulrahman ad Musa, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Ibrahim Ali al-Hassan, and Ali Abbas Usman. Jega.
OFAC said these individuals were involved in planning, financing, and carrying out extremist violence.
“These designations are aimed at disrupting terrorist networks and denying them access to the international financial system,” the agency noted.
Several Nigerians, including Nnamdi Orson Benson, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Felix Oshirama Okpor, Michael Olorunyomi and Richard Izuchukwu Uzu were also blacklisted for alleged large-scale cyber-based fraud.
These were designated under OFAC’s cyber sanctions framework.
“Cybercrime threatens global financial stability and national security, and those responsible will continue to face isolation from the financial system,” OFAC warned.
Terrorist groups and Nigerian-linked companies were similarly blacklisted. The sanctions also formally targeted extremist groups including Boko Haram, Ansar, and ISIS-West Africa.
Along with Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, another Nigeria-based company, Kafaku Enterprises Limited, was also accused of having links with named individuals.
Foreign-related companies named in the update include Aurum Ship Management FZC and Jammal Trust Bank SAL.
“This publication serves as a reference tool to inform the practice of sanctions against individuals and entities whose property is blocked,” OFAC explained.
The sanctions come as the US government increases its focus on insecurity and extremist violence in Nigeria.
The US Congress has recently called for visa bans and asset freezes for individuals and groups accused of religious persecution and security violations.
In October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump reinstated Nigeria to the State Department’s “Countries of Special Concern” list, which had previously been revoked under President Joe Biden’s administration, citing religious freedom concerns.
“The United States remains committed to disrupting the financing of terrorism, combating cybercrime, and holding violent actors accountable wherever they operate,” a Treasury official said.
The latest designations highlight Washington’s intensification of its campaign against extremist financing and transnational crime linked to Nigeria and the West African region.
