A United States congressman has alleged that illegal mining activities linked to Chinese entities in Nigeria are indirectly financing terrorist groups responsible for deadly attacks across parts of the country.
Riley Moore made the claim in a congressional report submitted to Donald Trump, asserting that unauthorized rare earth mineral mining operations in northern Nigeria are paying protection fees to armed extremist groups.
Speaking during an appearance on The Faulkner Focus on Fox News, Moore alleged that funds from these payments are being used to sustain violent campaigns targeting Christian communities.
According to the lawmaker, Chinese-linked mining operators working illegally in parts of northern Nigeria allegedly provide financial support to militants in exchange for security protection, thereby enabling continued attacks on civilian populations.
The report followed an investigation requested after Nigeria was redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing ongoing concerns over religious violence.
Moore referenced estimates from advocacy organisation Open Doors, which claims tens of thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria in recent years. Figures cited in congressional discussions suggest between 50,000 and 100,000 deaths since 2009, with thousands reportedly killed annually.
Violence in affected regions has been attributed to armed groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, alongside armed bandit and militia networks operating across northern and Middle Belt communities.
The congressman recommended a series of measures to the White House, including targeted sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals linked to the violence, conditional U.S. assistance tied to improved civilian protection, and enhanced security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria.
Additional proposals include intelligence assessments on possible terrorist designations for certain armed groups and trade-related pressure mechanisms aimed at disrupting illicit funding networks.
Chinese authorities have rejected the allegations, describing claims that their companies fund terrorism as unfounded and insisting that Chinese firms operating abroad maintain zero tolerance for illegal activities.
Some Nigerian analysts acknowledge the widespread problem of illegal mining but caution that direct links between foreign mining operators and terrorist financing remain contested, noting that insecurity in the region is driven by multiple factors, including banditry, ransom economies, and local conflicts.
The report has intensified debate over religious freedom, foreign influence, and security policy in Africa, as U.S. officials consider potential responses to the recommendations.
