A United States Congressman has made a striking allegation that Chinese nationals conducting illegal mining operations inside Nigeria are directly funding the Fulani militant groups responsible for attacks on Christian communities across the country’s Middle Belt region.
The claim comes from Congressman Riley Moore, whose findings are contained in a report submitted to the White House following months of congressional investigation. The inquiry was initiated after President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and directed Moore alongside House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to lead a comprehensive probe into reports of violence against Christian communities in the country.
Riley Moore laid out the alleged funding chain in blunt terms. “The Chinese go in, they don’t have a permit to mine, and they would bribe people in that state to be able to mine, and then the protection money is paid to the Fulani militants who then use that money to go then murder and murder Christians within Nigeria,” he stated.
The findings of the report are stark. It declares Nigeria the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian, documenting attacks by Fulani militias and terrorist groups that have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, the destruction of churches and schools, widespread kidnappings and the systematic targeting of Christian communities.
Moore confirmed the submission of the report in a post on his X handle, stating that it contains concrete actions designed to end the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and counter growing extremist violence in the region. He further assured that the plans are already in motion. “Actions would soon be carried out,” he said, adding that an interagency coalition is currently being assembled within the United States to advance the report’s recommendations.
President Trump has accepted the report, according to Moore, and work is ongoing to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Washington and Abuja as part of the broader response.
