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Five lawmakers in the United States have alleged that Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining operations in Nigeria are paying armed groups for protection.
The lawmakers, Riley Moore (West Virginia), Chris Smith (New Jersey), Bill Huizenga (Michigan), Brian Mast (Florida) and Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida), made the claim in proposed legislation titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.
According to a statement published on Mr Smith’s official website, the bill is “expected to move through the House quickly and gain widespread support.”
Smith, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said the legislation would require the US Secretary of State to “compile and submit to Congress a comprehensive report on US efforts to address” religious persecution and related violence in Nigeria.
In a copy of the bill seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the lawmakers alleged that “systemic religious persecution”, including killings, kidnappings and village destruction, has persisted in Nigeria since 2009.
They attributed the violence to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Fulani militant groups and other armed actors.
The bill states that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed between 2009 and 2025, and that numerous 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,” the lawmakers stated.
They added that such 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).”
In the proposed legislation, the lawmakers also urged, “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.”
But Chinese officials have refuted the allegations, calling them “completely baseless,” and asked that the media “immediately cease spreading such false information.”
The Chinese embassy in Nigeria wrote in a statement on Thursday that it has “consistently required Chinese companies and citizens overseas to strictly abide by the laws and regulations of the host country, to operate lawfully and compliantly, and to show zero tolerance toward any enterprise involved in illegal or criminal activities.
“The overwhelming majority of Chinese mining companies in Nigeria have set an exemplary record of compliance with Nigerian laws and regulations.
“They actively give back to local communities, fulfill their social responsibilities, protect the natural environment, and have made positive contributions to deepening bilateral mining cooperation, supporting local economic development, and creating employment opportunities.”
