Lagos house linked to alleged ISIS financier found deserted

U.S. officials have identified a bungalow at No. 45 Abimbola Street in Agege, Lagos, as the residence of Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, a Nigerian accused of moving funds for the Islamic State. The United States Department of State listed the property in a June 2026 sanction order that also targeted three Nigerian bureau‑de‑change firms – Generation Currency, Manhattan and Nine to Nine Exchange – for alleged roles in the financing network.

A Sunday PUNCH investigation found the house locked, with rusted door handles, sealed iron doors and no signs of recent habitation. Residents of the quiet Hausa‑populated neighbourhood said they had never known Muhammad and described the area as peaceful. “I have never seen anything that would suggest criminal activities or terrorist operations here,” said a 58‑year‑old food vendor identified as Hajia. Alhaji Suleiman Tijani added, “There has never been any history of violence or radical activities here.”

Local authorities noted that terrorism and national‑security matters fall under federal agencies; the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy said the state government had no plans to demolish the property. Police patrols in the area have increased since the U.S. announcement, prompting some residents to worry about wrongful targeting.