Breaking: FG Releases Names of 48 Individuals and Groups Financing Terrorism in Nigeria (Full List)

The Federal Government of Nigeria has released an updated list of 48 individuals and groups designated as terrorism financiers. This move, announced Saturday by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), targets funding networks tied to groups like IPOB, ISWAP, Ansaru, and Boko Haram factions. Authorities aim to freeze assets, block transactions, and disrupt support for violence across the country.

Here’s what stands out immediately.

This isn’t just another press release. It’s a direct strike at the money pipelines that keep insurgencies alive in the Northeast and separatist activities in the Southeast. By naming 42 individuals and six entities, the government sends a clear signal: financial enablers will face real consequences.

Who Are the 48 Individuals and Groups Financing Terrorism in Nigeria?

The Nigerian Federal Government, through the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), released a list of 48 individuals and groups designated as terrorism financiers on April 11, 2026. The list includes persons linked to ISWAP, Ansaru, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and represents the most expansive public designation of terrorism financiers in Nigeria's history.

Why the FG Released This List of 48 Names Now

Nigeria continues to battle multiple threats. Insurgents in the Northeast rely on cash flows for weapons and logistics. In the Southeast, proscribed groups like IPOB push their agenda through suspected funding channels. NIGSAC’s latest publication aligns with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and international standards from the UN Security Council and FATF.

The timing matters. Heightened scrutiny on financial networks follows years of arrests and court cases. Officials want banks, businesses, and the public to know exactly who sits on the sanctions list so compliance kicks in fast.

But here’s the bigger picture. This designation goes beyond naming names. It freezes assets in Nigerian banks, triggers reporting requirements for any transaction, and can impose travel bans. For listed individuals, everyday financial life grinds to a halt unless courts intervene.

Full Breakdown: Who Made the FG’s 48 Terrorism Financiers List

NIGSAC organized the designations clearly. Some tie directly to Northeast insurgency. Others link to Southeast activities. Six are entire entities already proscribed or flagged.

The six entities on the list:

• Jama’atu Wal-Jihad
• Ansarul Sudan (Ansaru)
• Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)
• Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
• Yan Group
• Yan Group NLBDG

Northeast-linked individuals (core of the list):

• Abdulsamat Ohida
• Mohammed Sani
• Abdurrahaman Abdurrahaman
• Fatima Ishaq
• Tukur Mamu
• Yusuf Ghazali
• Muhammad Sani
• Abubakar Muhammad
• Sallamudeen Hassan
• Adamu Ishak
• Hassana Isah
• Abdulkareem Musa
• Umar Abdullahi
• Abdurrahaman Ado
• Bashir Yusuf
• Ibrahim Alhassan
• Muhammad Isah
• Salihu Adamu
• Surajo Mohammad
• Fannami Bukar
• Muhammed Musa
• Sahabi Ismail
• Mohammed Buba
• Adamu Hassan
• Hassan Mohammed
• Usman Abubakar
• Kubara Salawu
• Rabiu Suleiman

These names connect to networks that allegedly move funds, logistics, and resources to ISWAP, Ansaru, and Jama’atu Wal-Jihad (a Boko Haram faction).

Southeast-linked individuals

• Simon Njoku
• Godstime Iyare
• Francis Mmadubuchi
• John Onwumere
• Chikwuka Eze
• Edwin Chukwuedo
• Chiwendu Owoh
• Ginika Orji
• Awo Uchechukwu
• Mercy Ali
• Ohagwu Juliana
• Eze Okpoto
• Nwaobi Chimezie
• Ogumu Kewe

These individuals face allegations of supporting IPOB’s financial operations. Note that prominent figure Simon Ekpa also appears highlighted across reports as tied to a faction of IPOB. Finnish courts sentenced him in September 2025 to six years for inciting terrorism and participating in terrorist group activities.

Key Individuals Named as Terrorism Financiers

Tukur Mamu

Arguably the most high-profile name on the list. Mamu is a Kaduna-based publisher and owner of Desert Herald Newspaper. The government designated him for participating in terrorism financing by receiving and delivering ransom payments exceeding $200,000 in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages from the Abuja-Kaduna train attack. He is currently being tried in federal court.

Abdulsamat Ohida

Designated as a senior commander (Quaid) of ISWAP Okene. He is suspected of being the attacker behind the St. Francis Catholic Church bombing in Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022, and the Kuje Correctional Centre attack in Abuja on July 5, 2022.

Fatima Ishaq

Described by the government as a financial courier to ISWAP Okene. She allegedly disbursed funds to the widows and wives of terrorist fighters within the group.

Mohammed Sani

Designated for membership in Ansaru (Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam), a group associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. He reportedly trained under Muktar Belmokhtar, a notorious AQIM commander.

Abdurrahaman Abdurrahaman

Named as a senior ISWAP Okene commander (Qaid) with operational roles within the network.

Yusuf Ghazali

The government linked him to entities and businesses flagged in a UAE court judgment for facilitating the transfer of terrorist funds from Dubai into Nigeria.

Bureau de Change Operators Named as Terror Financiers

The list does not stop at individuals.

Six Bureau de Change (BDC) operators and trading companies were also designated for allegedly enabling financial transactions that supported terrorism. These include:

• West and East Africa General Trading Co. Ltd
• Settings Bureau De Change Ltd
• G. Side General Enterprises
• Desert Exchange Ventures Limited
• Eagle Square General Trading Co Ltd
• Alfa Exchange BDC

Why BDCs? Because unregulated foreign currency exchange is one of the easiest ways to move money across borders without a paper trail. The government has increased nationwide supervision of BDC operations in direct response.

What These Sanctions Actually Mean for Everyday Nigerians

Financial institutions must now freeze accounts linked to anyone on the list. They report any attempted transaction immediately. Properties, businesses, and investments tied to designated persons become inaccessible without special clearance.

For the broader economy, the move aims to starve terrorist groups of cash. Less funding means fewer attacks, fewer weapons, and reduced logistics. Yet edge cases exist. Families of listed individuals may face hardship through no fault of their own. Legal challenges could arise if someone proves mistaken identity or lack of evidence.

The government coordinates with global bodies. This alignment helps prevent funds from rerouting through offshore accounts or crypto. It also signals to international partners that Nigeria takes terrorist financing seriously.

Nuances and Contested Angles You Need to Know

Not every name carries the same weight. Some face active criminal trials. Others appear because of alleged associations. IPOB’s placement sparks debate. While the Federal High Court proscribed the group in 2017, critics argue the designation criminalizes legitimate political expression.

The list’s release also raises questions about enforcement. Will banks act swiftly? Will courts see increased cases? And how does this affect diaspora communities where figures like Ekpa operate?

These nuances matter. The sanctions framework exists to protect national security, yet it demands transparency and due process to maintain public trust.

What Happens Next

The government has been clear: this list is not final.

Additional names are under active review. Security agencies continue monitoring financial institutions, BDC operations, and cross-border movements. Expect more designations as investigations mature.

The military has also intensified operations -- with recent reports of NAF airstrikes destroying ISWAP logistics bases in Sambisa and the Army clearing 14 ISWAP camps in Kukawa, Borno State.

The sanctions list and military action are two prongs of the same strategy.