The United States government has imposed wide-ranging sanctions on 18 Nigerians and associated entities over alleged involvement in terrorism, cybercrime, and narcotics offences.

The measures come as Washington simultaneously deepens military cooperation with Nigeria to counter violent extremist threats.

Under programmes administered by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the individuals and organisations were designated under specialised categories reflecting global terrorism (SDGT), cyber-related threats (CYBER2), and narcotics trafficking (SDNTK).

Among those sanctioned, with assets frozen for alleged links to militant organisations, are key figures associated with Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Ansaru — groups that have waged violent campaigns in Nigeria’s North-East for more than a decade.

Listed under the Specially Designated Global Terrorist regime are Boko Haram’s former leader, Abubakar Shekau, and ISIS-linked commanders Abu Musab al-Barnawi and Khalid al-Barnawi, alongside several associates allegedly tied to insurgent networks.

Also designated were Salih Yusuf Adamu, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, Surajo Abu Bakr Muhammad, Abdurrahman Ado Musa, and Ali Abbas Usman Jega.

The Nigerian branch of the Society for the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS-Nigeria) was sanctioned for alleged support of extremist operations.

The US Treasury also singled out Fawzi Reda Fawaz over alleged ties to Hezbollah-linked activity and sanctioned Amigo Supermarket in Abuja for purported financial links to Iran-aligned networks.

In a separate action, five Nigerians — Nnamdi Orson Benson, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Micheal Olorunyomi, and Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh — were listed under the US CYBER2 regime for their alleged roles in major cyber-enabled fraud schemes.

Two individuals — Wole A. Ogungbuyi and Babestan Oluwole Ademulero — were designated under the Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficking Kingpin framework for alleged involvement in international drug trafficking.

The sanctions come amid an expanded US military footprint in Nigeria and increased cooperation with Nigerian security forces following a series of high-profile interventions.

In December 2025, US forces carried out precision strikes against Islamic State-aligned militants in Sokoto State, a development confirmed by Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters as part of broader counter-terrorism operations.

Since then, additional American personnel have been deployed to Nigeria under intelligence support and training mandates. A contingent of approximately 100 troops, along with equipment, arrived in early February 2026 to assist with military training and capacity-building efforts.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has described the partnership as respectful of national sovereignty, emphasising that it is focused on intelligence sharing, logistics, and professional military education, rather than unilateral intervention.

The evolving security partnership follows earlier diplomatic friction, including US threats of more direct action amid allegations of religious persecution and congressional probes into violence in Nigeria.