The United States government has named a Lagos based bureau de change owner, Mukhtar Adamu as one of the sponsors of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS.
The development comes few weeks after a joint military operations of US and Nigerian armed forces killed ISIS number 2, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in Borno state.
Adamu, who operates three buraeu de change companies in the country was named as one of three major facilitators of terrorism activities globally , particularly ISIS in West Africa.
Other individuals blacklisted as ISIS financial facilitators by the U.S. government are France-based Miloud Abderrahmane, aka Abderrahmane, who aided the terrorist group with information on the use of explosives; and Abdelhakim Boukich, who operates a Syria-based money service business and transfers funds for ISIS supporters through cryptocurrencies to Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the U.S.
According to a statement released by the Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott, the US government said the Nigerian and three other individuals, as well as three separate entities in Europe and the Middle East, facilitated the transfer of money across countries to fund ISIS attacks.
The state Department accused Adamu of using three BDCs firms, allegedly owned or controlled by him, to funnel funds to the terrorist organisations around the world.
The BDcs, according to the statement include Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited in Lagos; Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited in Kano; and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited in Lagos.
Adamu, born on August 2, 1990, and residing in the Agege area of Lagos, was designated by the US as “having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of, ISIS-WA”.
“Nine Exchange, Manhattan Bureau, and Generation Currency are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad,” the government said.
The US Department of State spokesperson said the terror network receiving funding from Adamu and cohorts spread across Nigeria, France and Syria to Türkiye, saying efforts are being made to cut off the source of finances of the terror organization and bring their sponsors to justice, as part of the “United States’ unrelenting pressure on ISIS, and to end its global activities.
“We are cutting off the financial lifelines from around the world that enable ISIS to fund attacks, support its regional affiliates, and threaten civilians, including religious minorities,” Piggot said.
President Trump had in May disclosed that the killing of
Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was part of US’ efforts to dismantle terror cells in Nigerian and West Africa.
The ISIS kingpin was described by US leader as the “second in command of ISIS globally” and “the most active terrorist in the world”.
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