By Opeyemi Adelakun
The United States has designated a Nigerian national alongside other individuals and entities across Europe, the Middle East and West Africa over alleged involvement in financial networks linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The announcement was made in a statement released on Monday and obtained on Tuesday, by U.S. Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott.
According to the statement, the action targets three individuals and six entities accused of helping ISIS move and manage funds across international borders.
It said the move, carried out under the administration of President Donald Trump, was aimed at disrupting financial lifelines used by the terror group to sustain operations, support affiliates and carry out attacks.
The U.S. noted that the network spans multiple regions, including France, Syria, Türkiye and Nigeria, and involves individuals allegedly engaged in money movement and operational support for ISIS.
Among those named was a France-based facilitator accused of providing information on explosives to ISIS-linked actors, a Syria-based operator allegedly using cryptocurrency to transfer funds internationally, and a Nigeria-based money exchanger whose businesses were said to have been used as channels for terror financing.
The U.S. government said the designations form part of wider efforts to dismantle global financing structures that support extremist activities. Details of further enforcement actions were not immediately disclosed.
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