Five Republican lawmakers in the United States have alleged that Chinese nationals involved in “illegal mining” operations are paying terrorists for protection.
The lawmakers–Riley Moore of West Virginia, Chris Smith (New Jersey), Bill Huizenga (Michigan), Brian Mast (Florida) and Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida)–made this submission in a new bill aimed at addressing what they described as ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
In a statement published on his official website. Smith said the bill titled ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’ is “expected to move through the House quickly and gain widespread support.”
Smith who is also the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, said the bill would require the US Secretary of State to “compile and submit to Congress a comprehensive report on US efforts to address” the matter.
In a copy of the bill, the lawmakers argued that “systemic religious persecution” including mass murder, kidnappings, rape, village destruction, and forced displacement of persons, has persisted in Nigeria since 2009.
The lawmakers further 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. They added 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 lawmakers stated in their bill, noting 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).”
This bill is separate from another one by Messrs Moore and Smith which seeks to designate ex-Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and two Nigerian herder groups as terrorists.
“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 five lawmakers stated in their bill.
The Chinese government or its embassy in Nigeria has not reacted to this development. However, this is not the first time Chinese nationals have been accused of paying money to terrorists for protection and access to mining sites.
A study conducted by SBM Intelligence, a research consultancy and strategic intelligence firm in Lagos, disclosed how Chinese companies bribed terrorist groups in some parts of the country to access mining sites.
The firm shared its findings with The Times, a British newspaper, revealing videos of militant leaders boasting how powerful they had become, so that Chinese miners working in their strongholds had to pay “rent”.
“These guys are perfectly willing to pay off whoever needs to be paid off and have no qualms about it…,” Ikemesit Effiong, SBM’s head of research, had said.
Additionally, an investigation by WikkiTimes, a grassroots newspaper in Bauchi State, revealed how Chinese-affiliated miners bribed the terror faction of Dogo Gide to gain access to mining sites in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
In an audio clip attached to the investigation, one of the key players indicted, spoke about how they dialogued with Dogo Gide’s mother before operations could begin at the sites.
