A United States Congressman has accused Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining in Nigeria of indirectly sponsoring terrorism in the country. The revelation came from Rep. Riley M. Moore in an interview with Fox News on Friday, highlighting a link between illegal mining operations and the funding of Islamic extremist groups.
Rep. Moore, who recently visited Nigeria on a fact-finding mission, said Chinese miners operating without government approval pay “protection money” to radical Islamic groups. According to the lawmaker, these payments are then used to finance attacks, including the persecution of Christians.
“Earlier this week, I delivered my report to President Trump detailing the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” Moore said. “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. 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 Congressman’s visit to Nigeria was aimed at gathering information about ongoing attacks against Christian communities, particularly in the northern and central regions of the country. During the mission, Moore reportedly met with local authorities, community leaders, and survivors of terrorist attacks to assess the scale of violence and understand its underlying causes.
Moore said his investigation revealed that some Chinese nationals operate rare earth and other valuable mineral mines illegally in remote areas. These operations, he alleged, often function outside government regulation and involve payments to local armed groups to ensure the safety of workers and equipment.
“These illegal operations are more than just a business issue—they have serious security implications,” Moore added. “The money paid as protection is essentially a tax for terror, and it ends up funding violent activities against innocent civilians.”
Rep. Moore has submitted his findings to President Donald Trump, who had previously designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) regarding religious freedom violations. The report reportedly focuses on what Moore described as genocide and systemic persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Trump’s administration is currently reviewing the findings, which could influence future US policy toward Nigeria. Such policies might include sanctions, trade restrictions, or targeted actions against individuals or groups believed to be supporting terrorism.
“The information I’ve provided is intended to help the US government understand the sources of funding behind terrorism in Nigeria and to assist in protecting vulnerable communities,” Moore said.
Nigeria is rich in natural resources, including rare earth minerals, gold, and tin. While mining can contribute to economic growth, unregulated operations often lead to environmental damage, loss of revenue, and, as alleged in Moore’s report, the financing of criminal or terrorist activities.
Illegal mining has long been a challenge for the Nigerian government, particularly in remote northern states where security is already fragile. Armed groups have been known to extort fees from miners, turning mining sites into hotspots for criminal activity.
Moore highlighted that Christian communities have been disproportionately affected by these attacks. In parts of central and northern Nigeria, churches and Christian neighborhoods have been repeatedly attacked by radical groups, resulting in loss of life, destruction of property, and displacement of families.
The Congressman suggested that funding from illegal mining operations contributes significantly to the operational capacity of these terrorist organizations.
“It’s a chain reaction—illegal mining generates money, money funds terrorists, and terrorists carry out attacks,” Moore explained. “If we want to protect communities, we have to understand and cut off these financial networks.”
The revelations by Rep. Moore have drawn attention to the role of foreign nationals in Nigeria’s security challenges. While China is a major trade and investment partner for Nigeria, the alleged involvement of Chinese miners in funding terrorism could complicate diplomatic relations.
As of now, the Nigerian government has not officially responded to Moore’s claims. However, officials have previously acknowledged the challenges posed by illegal mining and its connections to insecurity in certain regions. Efforts to regulate mining, including registration of operators and stricter monitoring, are ongoing, but enforcement remains difficult in remote areas.
