A bill introduced in the US House of Representatives proposes closer collaboration with Nigeria to counter alleged Chinese illegal mining activities and address violence linked to armed Fulani militias.
A fresh bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives has proposed that the country’s Secretary of State work with the Nigerian government to thwart what it described as “hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations.” The proposed legislation, titled ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’, was introduced on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers — Chris Smith, Riley Moore (the bill’s author), Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart and Bill Huizenga.
According to the sponsors, illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria engage in the “destabilizing practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias.” The bill calls for diplomatic and strategic measures to address the alleged activities, framing them as a threat to regional stability and broader security interests.
Clauses 10 and 11 of the proposed legislation state: “The Secretary of State should consider technical support to the Government of Nigeria to reduce and then eliminate violence from armed Fulani militias, including disarmament programs and comprehensive counter-terrorism cooperation to rid the region of Foreign Terrorist Organizations that pose a direct threat to the American homeland;” The bill remains at the proposal stage and is subject to further legislative consideration.
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