Five Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill in the U.S. that links illegal mining activities carried out by Chinese nationals in Nigeria to terrorism financing. They argue that these operations involve paying protection money to Fulani militias, which contributes to the destabilization of the region and exacerbates ongoing violence. The lawmakers, including Riley Moore and Chris Smith, are pushing for action to address these issues under the proposed 'Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026'.

In their statement, the lawmakers emphasized the need for the U.S. Secretary of State to collaborate with the Nigerian government to mitigate the adverse impacts of these illegal mining operations. They describe the situation in Nigeria as involving significant religious persecution and mass atrocities, underlining the urgency of foreign intervention to safeguard human rights and promote stability. The proposed bill is expected to gain traction and achieve bipartisan support quickly within the U.S. Congress.

This legislative effort not only highlights concerns regarding illegal mining and foreign exploitation in Nigeria but also brings attention to the broader issue of foreign influence in the country's internal conflicts. The linkage of economic activities to terrorism financing raises questions about the accountability of international operations and the implications of such actions on Nigeria's security landscape, posing new challenges to governance and regional peace efforts.