A member of the United States Congress, Riley M. Moore, has alleged that Chinese nationals involved in illegal rare earth mining in Nigeria are indirectly financing extremist violence in the country.
In a statement posted on social media, Moore claimed that some Chinese operators are running unlawful rare earth mineral sites and paying what he described as protection money to radical Islamist groups. He said the funds are used to support violent campaigns, including attacks on Christian communities.
Moore stated that he submitted a report earlier this week to Donald Trump outlining what he characterised as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. According to him, the document details alleged links between illegal mining activities and insecurity in parts of the country.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, the lawmaker said his findings were based on engagements and assessments conducted over several months. He did not publicly provide specific evidence identifying companies, individuals or financial transactions connected to the alleged payments.
There has been no official response from the government of China regarding the latest accusations. Nigerian authorities have also not issued a formal statement addressing Moore’s claims at the time of reporting.
The allegations come amid broader concerns about illegal mining in Nigeria, where authorities have in recent years pledged to clamp down on unlicensed operators and improve oversight of the solid minerals sector. However, any direct link between foreign miners and the financing of extremist groups has not been independently verified.
