The Federal Government has released an updated list of 48 individuals and groups allegedly sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria, signalling a continued push to disrupt financial networks supporting insurgent operations. The list, published through the Nigeria Sanctions Committee on Saturday, April 11, 2026, comes amid a mass trial of terrorism suspects at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges. Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said the scale of the operation demonstrated the government’s resolve to ensure due process while bringing those involved in terrorism to justice.
Among the convicted is Babagana Habeeb, a former senatorial candidate in Borno, sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for selling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists. Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism. During proceedings, he knelt in the dock and appealed for leniency, stating he had spent more than 10 years in detention without contact with his family and that he has two wives and six children. Federal counsel David Kaswe opposed the plea, arguing that insurgents depend on petrol supplies to power motorcycles used in attacks and escape operations.
Presiding judge Peter Lifu held that there was no evidence showing Habeeb was a member of a terrorist group or had undergone weapons training. He noted that the prosecution did not dispute Habeeb’s claim of over a decade in custody. The judge sentenced him to 10 years, effective from the date of his arrest, with a recommendation for rehabilitation upon release. Five other accused persons have received jail terms ranging from seven to 20 years after pleading guilty to charges including selling livestock, supplying food, and providing information to militant groups.
The updated list of 48 names includes individuals and groups such as the Islamic State West Africa Province, Ansaru, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, alongside numerous named individuals. The development reflects the government’s strategy of targeting the economic lifelines of insurgent groups, recognising that military operations alone cannot defeat insurgencies sustained by financial networks.
