The Lagos residence identified by the United States as belonging to a Nigerian accused of facilitating financial transactions for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has reportedly remained unoccupied for several years.
The property, located on Abimbola Street in the Morkaz area of Agege, was recently listed by the U.S. Department of State as the residence of Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, who was sanctioned over his alleged involvement in an international ISIS financing network.
A visit to the address revealed a locked bungalow with no visible signs of recent occupation. The building appeared abandoned, with rusted door handles, sealed iron doors and tightly closed windows.
The U.S. government also imposed sanctions on three Nigerian Bureau De Change companies—Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited and Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited—over their alleged connections to the same financing network.
Residents of the neighbourhood expressed surprise that their community had been linked to an international terrorism financing investigation. Some claimed the house had been vacant for about two years, although this has not been independently verified.
A local resident, who identified herself as Hajia, said she had never heard of the suspect and described the area as peaceful, adding that she had not noticed any activities suggesting terrorism or criminal operations.
Another resident, Alhaji Suleiman Tijani, also described the community as calm, saying the property had remained largely unoccupied except for occasional visits by individuals who reportedly cleaned the premises before leaving after a few days.
Residents also reported an increased police presence in the area following the U.S. sanctions, although no arrests or questioning of community members had taken place.
Some locals expressed concern that innocent residents could become targets during security operations, while others urged authorities to conduct thorough investigations before taking action.
Reacting to the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of federal security agencies, stressing that the state government has no plans concerning the property.
Security sources disclosed that investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) are ongoing, adding that the suspect and other persons linked to the alleged network have not yet been arrested but are being tracked.
Officials familiar with the investigation said the case involves complex international terrorism financing networks, requiring extensive intelligence gathering before arrests can be made.
Investigations also revealed that the three Bureau De Change companies allegedly connected to the case have different operational statuses, with two currently listed as inactive and one remaining active according to available corporate records.
