Chinese language authorities denies funding militias, unlawful mining in Nigeria 

The Chinese language authorities has rejected allegations by 5 United States lawmakers that it’s sponsoring unlawful mining and funding militias in Nigeria, describing the claims as utterly baseless.

The rebuttal was contained in a press release issued on Thursday by the Chinese language Embassy in Nigeria in response to a invoice launched within the US Congress.

The event provides a diplomatic dimension to ongoing debates over mining governance, safety, and overseas involvement in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

The proposed US laws linked alleged unlawful mining actions by Chinese language nationals to terrorism financing and spiritual violence in Nigeria.

Nonetheless, the Chinese language authorities insisted that their nationals and corporations are required to comply strictly with Nigerian legal guidelines and rules.

What they’re saying 

The Chinese language Embassy stated it was deeply dissatisfied with what it described as false accusations by the US lawmakers.

It maintained that China has zero tolerance for unlawful mining actions and rejected claims of funding militant teams.

• “We specific our agency opposition and powerful dissatisfaction, and request that the related media instantly stop spreading such false info.” 
• “The Chinese language Embassy has constantly required Chinese language firms and residents abroad to strictly abide by the legal guidelines and rules of the host nation.” 
• “The overwhelming majority of Chinese language mining firms in Nigeria have set an exemplary report of compliance with Nigerian legal guidelines and rules.” 
• “It have to be emphasised that Chinese language mining enterprises in Nigeria are victims of terrorist actions.”

The embassy added that Chinese language firms actively help native communities, shield the setting, and contribute to bilateral cooperation and employment, whereas pledging continued collaboration with Nigerian authorities to strengthen mining governance.

Backstory 

Earlier this week, 5 Republican lawmakers within the US Congress launched a invoice titled “Nigeria Non secular Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.” The sponsors are Riley Moore, Chris Smith, Invoice Huizenga, Brian Mast, and Mario Diaz-Balart.

• The invoice seeks to deal with what the lawmakers described as non secular persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
• The lawmakers alleged that Chinese language nationals engaged in unlawful mining operations are paying safety cash to armed teams.
• They urged the US Secretary of State to work with the Nigerian authorities to counter what they termed hostile overseas exploitation.
• The invoice linked unlawful mining actions to terrorism financing and spiritual violence, notably within the Center Belt area.
• It claimed that militant teams have carried out organised assaults involving killings, abductions, destruction of property, and displacement of civilians.

A number of the sponsors have beforehand supported the designation of Nigeria as a Nation of Specific Concern over non secular freedom points, intensifying scrutiny of the nation’s inner safety challenges.

What you must know 

The Chinese language Embassy acknowledged that it respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and helps efforts to strengthen mining governance in accordance with Nigerian legal guidelines.