A bombshell report delivered to President Donald Trump has exposed what a senior U.S. lawmaker calls a missing piece of Nigeria’s terror puzzle: Chinese illegal miners paying protection money to radical Islamic militias who then use those funds to attack Christians.
West Virginia Congressman Riley Moore revealed the findings in an interview with Fox News Friday, detailing the conclusions of his recent fact-finding mission to Nigeria — a trip ordered by President Trump to investigate what the administration has labeled a genocide against Christians.
“One key point that has been missing from much of the coverage is that the Chinese are running illegal rare earth mineral mining operations in Nigeria,” Moore said.
“They are paying protection money to radical Islamic terrorists who use that money to finance their operations to persecute and kill our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The Legislation
Moore’s revelations come as he and four other Republican lawmakers — Chris Smith (NJ-4), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (FL-21), House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-4), and Appropriations Vice Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26) — have introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026” (H.R. 7457).
The bill directly links Chinese illegal mining operations to terrorism financing, stating that the U.S. Secretary of State should work with Nigeria to “counteract the hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations and their destabilising practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias”.
The legislation also calls on the U.S. government to consider providing technical support to Nigeria to address violence involving armed Fulani militias and to determine whether certain groups qualify as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.
China’s Furious Denial
The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has reacted with “firm opposition and strong dissatisfaction” to what it calls “completely baseless” accusations.
In a strongly worded statement, embassy officials said the bill introduced by “certain U.S. congressmen groundlessly accused China of engaging in illegal mining operations in Nigeria and paying protection money to specific militia groups”.
“Some media reported on this bill and fabricated such rumors as ‘Chinese mining companies funding terrorism.’ These accusations are completely baseless,” the statement read.
The embassy insisted that Chinese companies operating abroad are required to comply strictly with local laws and that “the overwhelming majority of Chinese mining companies in Nigeria have set an exemplary record of compliance with Nigerian laws and regulations”.
In a striking counter-claim, the Chinese government asserted that its mining enterprises in Nigeria are themselves victims of terrorism, not sponsors.
“It must be emphasized that Chinese mining enterprises in Nigeria are victims of terrorist activities. They have consistently supported and are willing to cooperate with the Nigerian government’s efforts to safeguard national security,” the embassy stated.
The Trump Factor
Trump, who had earlier designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), is currently reviewing Moore’s findings. The administration’s designation of Nigeria as a CPC came after years of advocacy by religious freedom groups who estimate that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025, with more than 19,000 churches destroyed.
The Religious Freedom Institute has urged swift passage of the legislation, calling it a critical tool to confront the “range of malicious actors” fueling persecution in Nigeria.
RFI President David Trimble commented: “Millions of Nigerian Christians have endured appalling levels of violence and repression for years, as have a substantial number of Muslims, and decisive action is needed now to secure real peace in Africa’s most populous country”.
What the Bill Would Do
If enacted, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act would :
· Require the Secretary of State to issue a comprehensive report on U.S. efforts to address religious persecution in Nigeria
· Identify all individuals and entities sanctioned or under consideration for sanction under the Global Magnitsky Act — with specific mention of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore
· Determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias qualify for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organisations
· Authorize humanitarian assistance delivered through faith-based organizations in Nigeria’s Middle Belt states
· Evaluate ongoing U.S. security assistance to ensure it does not enable religious persecution
The Mining Connection
Moore’s allegations come amid a broader crackdown on illegal mining in Nigeria. The Federal Government has vowed to intensify enforcement following the killing of an NSCDC officer by suspected illegal miners in Niger State’s Katcha Local Government Area.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dr. Dele Alake described the attack as a “criminal murder” and declared that perpetrators would be “made to face the full wrath of the law”. He announced that additional weapons and operational equipment would soon be deployed to strengthen the Mining Marshals, a specialized enforcement unit combating illegal mining nationwide.
“The illegal miners responsible for the murder of the gallant officer in active service will be made to face the full wrath of the law. Their arrest and prosecution will send the right signal that this administration maintains zero tolerance for all forms of illegal mining and will do everything possible to defend its agents from murder,” Alake stated.
The International Dimension
The U.S. has already taken significant action in Nigeria’s security landscape. In December 2025, American forces carried out airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria in coordination with Abuja. The U.S. has also expanded training support and military supplies for Nigerian forces.
The new legislation would deepen that cooperation while conditioning future assistance on Nigeria’s response to the alleged atrocities.
For China, the accusations represent a serious diplomatic challenge at a time when Beijing has been expanding its influence in Africa through infrastructure investment and resource extraction. The Chinese Embassy’s unusually forceful response suggests the allegations have hit a nerve.
What Happens Next
The bill now moves through the legislative process, with strong backing from key committee chairmen. Trump’s review of Moore’s findings could accelerate action.
For Nigeria, caught between two global powers, the accusations pose a delicate diplomatic challenge. The government has welcomed U.S. security cooperation while maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with China.
The mining connection adds a new dimension to an already complex picture. If Moore’s allegations are substantiated, they would reveal a direct financial link between resource extraction and terrorism — with implications that extend far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
For now, the accusations stand. China denies them. The U.S. presses forward with legislation. And in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Moore says Chinese miners pay protection money to militias, the violence continues.
