U.S. lawmaker Riley M. Moore has alleged that foreign-backed illegal mining and terrorist financing are fuelling violence against Christians in Nigeria, raising the claims in a report submitted to former U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week.
Moore said the report documents what he described as “systematic persecution” of Christian communities, while also accusing actors linked to China of operating незаконal rare-earth mineral mines in Nigeria.
According to the congressman, proceeds from the alleged illicit mining activities are being channelled as protection payments to extremist groups, which he claimed use the funds to bankroll attacks, violence, and intimidation against Christian populations.
“This cannot continue,” Moore said, calling for urgent international attention to what he framed as a convergence of resource exploitation, insecurity, and religious persecution.
The allegations have not yet been independently verified, and no official response has been issued by the governments or entities mentioned at the time of filing this report.
