A political storm has erupted in Nigeria as lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives introduce legislation alleging that illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria are financing armed militias, including Fulani ethnic militias, by paying protection money that fuels violence and destabilises communities.
On 12 February 2026, Republican members of the US House, including Representatives Riley Moore, Chris Smith, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga, introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026. Central to the proposed bill is the assertion that “hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations” in Nigeria has generated revenue streams that are being channelled through payments to Fulani militias and other violent armed actors. The legislators contend that this practice not only undermines Nigeria’s stability but also contributes indirectly to extremist violence with regional and global repercussions.
The proposed law would require the US Secretary of State to collaborate 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,” and to explore technical support aimed at reducing militia violence through disarmament and counter-terrorism cooperation. The legislation also directs engagement with international partners, including France, the United Kingdom, and Hungary, to support peace, religious freedom, and security in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
The initiative comes amid long-standing insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Northwest, and Northeast, where sectarian violence, banditry, and anti-state insurgents such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have inflicted severe human and economic costs. US lawmakers referenced credible estimates that militants and ethnically aligned militias have been responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and massive displacement of civilians over the past decade. They assert that some Chinese mining interests have been compelled to make payments to armed actors to secure access to mineral resources.
The Chinese government, through its embassy in Abuja, responded sharply to the allegations, describing them as “completely baseless” and “false accusations.” The embassy insisted that Chinese companies operating in Nigeria comply strictly with local laws, contribute positively to employment and development, and have “zero tolerance toward any enterprise involved in illegal or criminal activities.”
While addressing the incidents of illegal mining, Nigerian enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have made arrests of Chinese nationals for illegal mining activities. However, it is crucial to distinguish between illegal mining as a criminal activity, for which Nigerian authorities have made arrests, and the broader allegation of systematic terrorism funding.
The US initiative represents a novel intersection of foreign policy, security strategy, and human rights advocacy. Its passage could pressure Nigeria and international partners to adopt more robust mechanisms to regulate mining and diminish militia influence, but it also risks inflaming diplomatic tensions with China.
As Professor Aisha Bello, a security studies expert at the African Centre for Strategic Research, observes, “Highlighting illegal mining and its linkages to insecurity is necessary, but allegations must be anchored in verifiable evidence. Blaming foreign actors without transparent local investigations can undermine domestic accountability and fuel geopolitical rivalries.”
The debate over Chinese mining operations in Nigeria encompasses issues of governance failures, security vacuums, and the urgent need for transparent and accountable economic policies that protect citizens rather than empower violence. For Nigeria, the challenge remains to harness its natural resources for development while holding elites and foreign investors to strict standards that preserve peace and the rule of law.
US lawmakers accuse Chinese miners of financing Fulani militias in Nigeria
