The Chinese government has responded to allegations from the United States accusing it of backing illegal mining activities linked to terrorism in Nigeria.
The reaction followed a bill introduced by five members of the United States Congress who claimed that some Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining in Nigeria were paying armed groups for protection.
The proposed law, titled Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, connected illegal mining activities by Chinese operators to the funding of terrorist groups in the country.
The lawmakers behind the bill are Riley Moore, Chris Smith, Bill Huizenga, Brian Mast and Mario Diaz-Balart.
They said the proposed legislation is aimed at addressing cases of religious persecution and violent attacks in Nigeria.
In the document, the lawmakers called on the US Secretary of State to work closely with the Nigerian government to stop what they described as foreign exploitation tied to illegal mining.
They alleged that protection money was being paid to Fulani militias, which they claimed contributed to instability in the country.
In response, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria released a statement on Thursday rejecting the accusations.
The embassy said most Chinese mining companies operating in Nigeria follow the country’s laws and regulations. It described the claims of funding extremist groups and ethnic militias as false.
The embassy also expressed dissatisfaction over the allegations and asked media platforms to stop circulating what it called untrue reports.
It stated that China expects its citizens abroad to obey the laws of their host countries, including Nigeria’s mining rules, and maintained that it does not tolerate illegal activities.
According to the statement, many Chinese mining firms in Nigeria are operating within the legal framework and are contributing to local communities.
The embassy added that these companies support economic growth, create jobs and protect the environment while strengthening mining cooperation between both countries.
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