BREAKING: US President Donald Trump Exposes Nigerians And Firms Financing ISIS
The United States government has designated a Nigerian national and three Nigeria-based companies for their alleged involvement in financing activities linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), as part of a broader crackdown on global terrorism financing networks.
The action was announced by the U.S. Department of State through its spokesperson, Thomas Pigott, who disclosed that the latest sanctions targeted three individuals and six entities operating across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa.
According to the statement, the Nigerian national identified as Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad was accused of serving as a financial facilitator for ISIS West Africa. U.S. authorities listed Muhammad, who was born on August 2, 1990, and resides in Lagos State, among those allegedly involved in moving funds for the terrorist organisation.
The sanctions also extended to three Nigerian companies reportedly linked to Muhammad and the ISIS financing network. They include Generation Currency Bureau de Change Limited, Manhattan Bureau de Change Limited based in Kano State, and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau de Change Limited located in Lagos State.
The U.S. government alleged that the firms were used as conduits for transferring funds on behalf of ISIS, helping the terrorist group move money across international borders. Pigott described the targeted network as a sophisticated financial system that enabled ISIS to sustain its operations in different parts of the world.
“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,” he said.
He further noted that those sanctioned include a France-based facilitator accused of providing information on the use of explosives to ISIS supporters, a Syria-based operative who allegedly used cryptocurrency to transfer funds on behalf of ISIS associates in several countries, including the United States, and a Nigeria-based facilitator whose money exchange businesses reportedly played a role in terrorist financing.
In a subsequent update released by U.S. authorities, the identities of all three individuals and six companies designated under the sanctions programme were made public. Of the six companies listed, three are located in Nigeria, with two operating in Lagos State and one in Kano State.
The U.S. government reaffirmed its security partnership with Nigeria, highlighting cooperation between both countries in counterterrorism operations. Pigott referenced a joint operation conducted on May 16, 2026, which reportedly led to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the second-highest-ranking official within ISIS.
The spokesperson stressed that Washington would continue pursuing individuals and organisations that provide support to terrorist groups through financial networks. “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,” Pigott stated.
“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.”
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13224, as amended, a key U.S. counterterrorism measure used to target individuals and organisations accused of supporting terrorist activities. ISIS, formerly known as al-Qaeda in Iraq, has been designated by the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation since 2004. The latest action underscores ongoing international efforts to disrupt the group’s financial networks and limit its operational capabilities worldwide.
