US Congressman Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) has accused Chinese nationals involved in illegal rare earth mineral mining operations in Nigeria of indirectly financing terrorism by paying protection money to radical Islamic groups.
In a Fox News interview on Friday, February 27, 2026 (or late February 26), Moore revealed findings from his recent fact-finding mission to Nigeria focused on the alleged persecution and genocide against Christians.
He stated: “Earlier this week, I delivered my report to President Trump detailing the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
"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.”
Moore emphasized that these payments enable the terrorists to carry out attacks primarily targeting Christians.
The report was submitted to President Donald Trump, who previously redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under US religious freedom designations.
Trump is reportedly reviewing the document amid ongoing US scrutiny of religious violence in the country.
The allegations align with broader concerns raised by US lawmakers, including in the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (introduced earlier in February by Moore and colleagues like Rep. Chris Smith).
That bill called for US-Nigeria cooperation to counter "hostile foreign exploitation" of illegal mining and the practice of paying protection fees to groups such as Fulani militias or Islamist extremists, which some sources link to financing Boko Haram, ISWAP, or related violence.
No specific Chinese individuals, companies, or indictments in US courts were detailed in Moore's statements or the report summary.
The claims appear to stem from investigative findings rather than formal criminal charges against named persons at this stage.
No immediate responses from the Chinese government, embassy, Nigerian authorities, or affected mining operators were mentioned in the coverage.
The issue highlights growing US attention to foreign involvement in Nigeria's mining sector and its potential links to insecurity, religious persecution, and terrorism financing.
Moore's comments follow his visit and report submission, positioning the matter as a critical but underreported factor in Nigeria's Christian persecution crisis.
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