DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

US blacklists Nigerian national, firms over alleged ISIS funding

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • The U.S. has designated a Nigerian national and three Nigerian companies as alleged facilitators of funds for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
  • The designations are part of a global action targeting individuals and entities accused of moving money for ISIS operations.
  • The U.S. reaffirmed its partnership with Nigeria, noting their joint operation that led to the killing of a top ISIS official.

The United States has taken action against a Nigerian national and three companies operating in Nigeria, designating them as alleged financial facilitators for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This move is part of a broader international effort targeting three individuals and six entities accused of moving funds for ISIS operations worldwide.

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, exposing a network that spans from France and Syria to Türkiye and Nigeria.

— Thomas PigottU.S. Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott described the network targeted by the new designations.

The designated Nigerian national is Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, linked to ISIS West Africa. The implicated companies include Generation Currency Bureau de Change Limited, Manhattan Bureau de Change Limited, and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau de Change Limited, all reportedly serving as conduits for ISIS financing. U.S. Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott stated that the network enables ISIS to transfer money across borders.

Among those designated is a France-based facilitator who provided information concerning the use of explosives to ISIS supporters, a Syria-based operator who used cryptocurrency to transfer funds on behalf of ISIS associates in multiple countries, including the United States, and a Nigeria-based facilitator whose money exchange businesses served as conduits for ISIS financing.

— Thomas PigottU.S. Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott detailed the roles of some of the designated individuals and entities.

These designations span across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa. Pigott highlighted that the network includes a France-based facilitator who provided information on explosives, a Syria-based operator using cryptocurrency for fund transfers, and the Nigeria-based exchange businesses. The U.S. emphasized its strong partnership with Nigeria, referencing a joint operation on May 16, 2026, that resulted in the death of a high-ranking ISIS official.

The U.S. reaffirmed its “strong partnership with Nigeria,” which joined the United States in the May 16, 2026, operation that resulted in the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the number two official in ISIS.

— Thomas PigottU.S. Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott highlighted the collaboration between the U.S. and Nigeria in counter-terrorism efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog