Locating the Agege home of Alhaji Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad proved difficult due to confusing street numbering in the area. Muhammad was recently identified by the United States government as part of an alleged ISIS financing network operating in Nigeria. The U.S. Treasury Department claims he utilized bureau de change entities to facilitate fund transfers for ISIS-West Africa. This action was part of a broader set of sanctions against multiple individuals and firms accused of supporting international militant financial networks.
U.S. authorities officially listed Muhammad as a Nigerian national born in 1990 and linked him to three specific currency exchange businesses: Nine To Nine Exchange Bureau De Change, Manhattan Bureau De Change, and Generation Currency Bureau De Change. While these entities are under sanctions, efforts to locate the office of Nine To Nine Exchange at the FAAN Complex in Ikeja were unsuccessful. Security staff and local workers at the site denied the existence of such a business, noting that the building houses logistics firms and a temporary liaison office for the Zamfara State government.
Conversely, in his Agege neighbourhood, residents were quick to identify Muhammad’s residence. Neighbours described him as a reserved, pious family man who consistently avoided conflict and was frequently seen attending prayers at a local mosque. Those interviewed expressed disbelief at the accusations, stating that Muhammad’s behaviour never indicated any link to extremism. Some suggested the charges might be a misunderstanding or a setup, noting that he has not been seen in the area for some time. Currently, no formal charges have been filed by Nigerian authorities, and his reported detention remains unverified.
