By Deborah Nnamdi
A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has alleged that illegal rare earth mineral mining operations linked to China are fueling terrorist activities in Nigeria and worsening attacks on Christian communities in parts of the country.
Moore made the allegation during a live interview on Fox News, shortly after submitting a report on Nigeria’s security situation to former U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week.
In the report, Moore raised concerns over persistent insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks targeting Christian communities. He argued that while international attention has largely focused on the religious dimensions of the violence, a significant economic factor has been overlooked.
“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,” Moore said during the interview.
He further alleged that proceeds from the illegal mining activities are being used to bankroll extremist groups operating in affected regions.
“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. This cannot continue,” he added.
Rare earth minerals are strategic resources critical to the production of high-tech equipment, including defence systems, electronics, and renewable energy technologies. Nigeria is believed to have commercially viable deposits of such minerals, attracting increasing foreign interest amid global competition for critical resources.
Moore’s claims, if substantiated, could carry significant geopolitical and security implications, especially as concerns grow over insurgency, banditry, and the scramble for critical minerals across parts of northern Nigeria.
