A prominent newspaper publisher is on the list of terrorism financiers released on Saturday by the Nigerian government.

The government, through the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC) updated its list of 48 persons and organisations linked to terrorism financing in the country.

Prominent names on the list include the detained newspaper publisher Tukur Mamu, jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, the organization itself, Jama’atu Wal-Jihad, Ansarul Sudan (Ansaru) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Jama’atu Wal-Jihad, Ansarul Sudan (Ansaru), and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWA are largely responsible for the long-running insurgency in the northern part of the country.

Tukur Mamu is accused 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.

Also on the list is Abdulsamat Ohida, described as a senior commander of the Islamic State of West Africa Province in Okene. Authorities linked Ohida to the 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.

Another suspect, Mohammed Sani,is  described as a member of the Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladissudam (ANSARU), a group associated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

According to the federal government, Sani was trained under Muktar Belmokhtar, also known as ‘One Eyed’, and specialised in designing clandestine communication codes and improvised explosive devices. He is also said to be  a courier and travel guide for AQIM operatives in Algeria and Mali.

He reportedly escaped during the Kuje prison break in July 2022.

Abdurrahman Abdurrahman, another senior ISWAP commander in Okene, was also named. The federal government said the group emerged in 2012 as the North-Central wing of Boko Haram and later re-aligned with ISWAP following 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.

Fatima Ishaq was listed as a financial courier to ISWAP Okene, allegedly responsible for disbursing funds to widows and families of fighters.

Yusuf Ghazali was named for allegedly transferring N20 million in 2015 to Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and N40 million to Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, both identified as convicts.

Authorities said Abubakar Adamu, also known as Yellow, received N189 million from Ghazali between 2016 and 2018 and had financial links with the group’s leader, Alhaji Saidu Ahmed. Ghazali was further accused of owning entities referenced in a UAE court judgment as facilitating the transfer of terrorist funds from Dubai to Nigeria.

Usama Muhammad was listed as a major contact in Zamfara State, allegedly receiving N57 million from Yawale Muhammad between 2014 and 2017 and maintaining transactions with Surajo Abubakar Muhammad and Saidu Ahmed.

Other individuals on the sanctions list are Abubakar Muhammad, Allamudeen Hassan, Adamu Ishak, Hassana Isah, Abdulkareem Musa, Umar Abdullahi, Abdurrahman 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, Simon Njoku, Godstime Iyare, Francis Mmaduabuchi, John Onwumere, Chukwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chiwendu Owoh, Ginika Orji, Awo Uchechukwu, Mercy Ali, Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie and Ogumu Kewe.