United States of America lawmakers link Chinese illegal mining to terrorism funding in Nigeria
Five Republican lawmakers in the United States of America (USA) have alleged that Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining operations are paying terrorists for protection in Nigeria.
Penpushing reports that the lawmakers who made this known include Riley Moore of West Virginia, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Bill Huizenga of Michigan, Brian Mast of Florida and Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida.
This submission is contained in a new bill titled, Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’ aimed at addressing what they described as ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
Penpushing further reports that the bill is expected to move through the House quickly and gain widespread support, as stated by Smith in a statement published on his official website.
The lawmaker from New Jersey (Smith) who is also the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee noted that President Donald Trump has an interest in the issue, adding that the bill would require the America Secretary of State to compile and submit to Congress a comprehensive report on the country efforts to address the matter.
Penpushing also reports that the lawmakers in the bill argued that systemic religious persecution including mass murder, kidnappings, rape, village destruction, and forced displacement of persons, has persisted in Nigeria since 2009.
They stated these crimes were perpetrated by Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Fulani militant groups, and other extremist organisations, estimating that these actors have killed between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians between 2009 and 2025, adding that churches were attacked or destroyed within the same period.
“The acts carried out by these militias are intended to intimidate, coerce, and displace civilian populations, disrupt local governance, and assert control over territory’, the bill emphasized.
Penpushing reports that the lawmakers stated in their bill, pointing out that these actions meet the criteria for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
“The Secretary of State should work with the Government of Nigeria to counteract the hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations and their destabilising practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias’, the bill stressed.
Penpushing further reports that as at the time of filing this report the Chinese government or its embassy in Nigeria has not reacted to this development, however, record has it that this is not the first time Chinese nationals have been accused of paying money to terrorists for protection and access to mining sites.
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