US lawmakers introduce bill targeting Fulani militias, Chinese illegal mining in Nigeria
By: Zagazola Makama
A fresh bill at the United States House of Representatives proposes that the US Secretary of State collaborate with the Nigerian government to counter “hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations” and curb violence by Fulani militias.
The proposed legislation, titled Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers, including Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga, TheCable reports.
According to the bill’s sponsors, illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria engage in the “destabilizing practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias,” thereby indirectly funding insecurity and armed attacks in the region.
Clauses 10 and 11 of the bill call for the Secretary of State to provide technical support to Nigeria to reduce and eventually eliminate violence by armed Fulani militias, including disarmament programs and counter-terrorism cooperation targeting foreign terrorist organizations deemed a threat to the United States. The bill also instructs the US government to work with international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom to promote religious freedom and peace in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation further tasks the Secretary of State with determining whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias qualify as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
The bill follows reports by The Times in April 2023 which alleged that some Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining in Zamfara and north-western Nigeria were funding militant groups to secure access to the country’s mineral resources. The report indicated that illicit payments and informal mining networks could indirectly support terror activities in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy.
The bill has sparked debate over foreign intervention in Nigeria’s security and mining sectors, with analysts warning that external pressure may complicate ongoing counter-insurgency operations and community relations.
TheCable was the source of this report.
