The United States government has designated a Nigerian national and three Nigeria-based companies as part of a broader international crackdown on individuals and businesses accused of facilitating financial transactions linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The action, announced by the U.S. Department of State, forms part of sanctions imposed on a network spanning Europe, the Middle East and West Africa, which American authorities allege has been involved in moving funds and providing financial support for ISIS operations across multiple countries.

In a statement issued by U.S. Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott, Washington said the latest measures targeted three individuals and six entities operating in France, Syria, Türkiye and Nigeria.

According to the U.S. government, the designated network allegedly enabled ISIS operatives and supporters to transfer funds across international borders through a combination of money exchange businesses, cryptocurrency transactions and other financial channels.

Among those named was Nigerian national Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, also known as Mukhtar Adamu, who was identified by U.S. authorities as an alleged financial facilitator connected to ISIS-West Africa.

The U.S. also designated three Nigerian-registered companies allegedly linked to Muhammad’s financial activities. They include Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, based in Lagos; Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited, also located in Lagos; and Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited, headquartered in Kano State.

The sanctions place the individuals and entities on the United States Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, a designation used by the U.S. Treasury and State Department to target persons and organisations accused of supporting terrorism, organised crime or other activities considered threats to international security.

Apart from the Nigerian suspects, the sanctions also targeted French national Miloud Abderrahmane and Netherlands-born Abdelhakim Boukich, who is based in Syria. U.S. authorities alleged that the two individuals played separate roles in supporting ISIS operations through financial transfers, operational assistance and the dissemination of information related to explosives.

Several companies in Türkiye and Syria were also included in the sanctions package. American officials claimed that some of the entities were used to facilitate money transfers and cryptocurrency transactions on behalf of ISIS operatives.

The U.S. government stated that the action was taken under Executive Order 13224, a legal framework that authorises sanctions against individuals and organisations accused of supporting terrorist groups.

Washington further reiterated its commitment to working with international partners, including Nigeria, to disrupt terrorist financing networks and prevent extremist organisations from accessing financial resources.

Pigott noted that the United States and Nigeria recently collaborated in counterterrorism operations, including a military action conducted on May 16, 2026, which reportedly led to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by U.S. authorities as the second-highest-ranking official within ISIS.

“The United States 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,” Pigott said.

The sanctions do not constitute criminal convictions but impose significant restrictions on the designated individuals and entities. Assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction may be frozen, while American citizens and businesses are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with those listed.

The latest move highlights growing international concern over the financing of extremist groups in Africa, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider West African region, where terrorist organisations continue to exploit informal financial systems, cross-border trade routes and emerging digital payment technologies to sustain their activities.

Security experts say disrupting funding channels remains one of the most effective tools in weakening terrorist networks, as access to financial resources often determines their ability to recruit members, procure weapons and carry out attacks.