Federal Govt Places 47 On Sanctions List For Terror Financing

The federal government has placed 47 individuals and entities on its sanctions list over alleged involvement in terrorism financing and related activities.

Among those listed are self-titled terrorism negotiator Tukur Mamu and self-styled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Simon Njoku Ekpa,.

The government accused Tukur Mamu of participating in terrorism financing by receiving and delivering ransom payments exceeding $200,000 to ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

Among those named is Abdulsamat Ohida, described as a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province in Okene.

Investigating authorities linked him to June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, and the July 5, 2022 assault on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.

Also listed is Mohammed Sani, said to be a member of the Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam (ANSARU), a group associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

According to the government, Sani was trained under Muktar Belmokhtar, also known as “One Eyed,” and specialised in designing clandestine communication codes and improvised explosive devices.

He was further described as a courier and travel guide for AQIM operatives in Algeria and Mali, and was reported to have escaped during the Kuje prison break in July 2022. Abdurrahman Abdurrahman, another senior ISWAP commander in Okene, was also named.

Authorities said the group emerged in 2012 as the North-Central wing of Boko Haram and later re-aligned with ISWAP after the death of its leader in 2016.

The group has been linked to attacks around the Federal Capital Territory and the South-West, including the Owo church attack.