Chinese ‘bribed Nigerian militants for access to vast mineral reserves’

Chinese mining bosses are funding Nigerian militant groups in order to secure access to the country’s mineral reserves, raising the prospect that Beijing could be indirectly funding terror in Africa’s largest economy.

Chinese companies working in parts of Nigeria where attacks are frequent have been striking security deals with insurgents, The Times has learnt. Attacks on Chinese citizens, of whom there are said to be between 100,000 and 200,000 in Nigeria, have become regular occurrences in recent years amid the country’s many conflicts.

Between 2019 and last year, 51 Chinese people are known to have been kidnapped and three killed. It is likely that many more incidents go unreported. The Chinese embassy in Abuja has now urged its citizens to “strengthen civil defence, physical defence and technical defence measures”.

China is Nigeria’s No 1 trading partner and has more than 1,000 companies registered in the country, after a decade in which it has poured vast sums into infrastructure projects to overtake the US as Africa’s largest investor.

Research shared with The Times from SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based analytical group, has revealed videos on social media and WhatsApp of militant leaders boasting that they are so powerful that Chinese workers wishing to operate in their areas must pay them “rent”. They have taken over swathes of northwest Nigeria, turning the region into the country’s bloodiest conflict zone.

Insurgents discuss the payments on social media. Sources on the ground in the states of Zamfara and Katsina have confirmed that, in the words of Ikemesit Effiong, SBM’s head of research, “these guys are perfectly willing to pay off whoever needs to be paid off and have no qualms about it and are allowed to carry out operations”.

In one pocket of Zamfara, researchers found, interaction with militants runs so deep that some serve as runners for Chinese miners who have spread throughout Nigeria, controlling digs for gold. The country has some of the largest gold reserves in the world.

Often operating informally in small groups as contractors registered to clearing-house companies, they speak local languages and can stay for years at a time living in remote areas that western companies consider off-limits.

Chinese engineers and staff on hydroelectric dams have described the “hell on earth” of being kidnapped, amid local perceptions that they carry wads of cash. Miners attempt to blend into their host communities but are nonetheless targeted, notably in the case of seven Chinese men who spent more than five months in captivity last year after a militant group in June stormed their mining site at Shiroro in Niger state, leaving 48 people dead.

Chinese mining contractors, who local communities have accused of abuses and paying pitiful wages, often smuggle minerals out of the country illegally and are sometimes arrested. In 2020, 27 miners, including 17 said to be Chinese, were arrested in Osun state. Last October a Chinese citizen, Gang Deng, 29, was jailed for five years after being found with 25 tonnes of a mineral thought to be lepidolite, containing lithium, which is used in batteries.

SBM also found Chinese workers involved in the Boko Haram conflict in Nigeria’s northeast, with a case of a Chinese smuggler being paid to help a jihadist group move metal ore out of the country.

Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs select committee and the China Research Group of MPs, said reports of Chinese companies funding militant groups were “deeply concerning”. She called on the British government to assist Nigeria in “strengthening regulatory oversight and governance of Chinese companies in the sector”.

Separately, large Chinese state-backed companies have turned to Erik Prince, founder of the private security company Blackwater, for help. Prince, a one-time close adviser to Donald Trump, became a controversial figure after four Blackwater security contractors were found guilty of killing innocent civilians in Iraq during a shooting rampage in 2007.

Prince is behind a private security company, Frontier Resources Group, which specialises in helping Chinese companies work in Africa. It has a branch in Nigeria and has been awarded contracts.

Nigeria looks set to continue to choose Chinese investment over that of the West. Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian vice-president, pointedly lauded the benefits of Beijing’s support after the African tour by Kamala Harris, the US vice-president, this month, while the incoming President Tinubu has already met the Chinese ambassador.

However, China faces a job to protect its businesses. In the case of miners, analysts predict that kidnappings may continue to rise because their deals with militants are breaking down, either because the militants want more money or are positioning themselves before a change in Nigeria’s government. Effiong called northern miners “sitting ducks”.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c095bf7e-db00-11ed-80bc-e358583c5d62?shareToken=040e29ef06b10f459815b8dce9a8b412

Picture: Chinese mining contractors in Nigeria have been accused of smuggling minerals out of the country. Two men were held in 2020 in Zamfara

It is always painful that Nigeria leaders are just too selfish and don't have plan to develop Nigeria or make Nigeria a working country.

What those Chinese miners are mining out of this country need serious intervention. Do I blame the Chinese, No, but our leaders especially the governors.

If nothing is done quick to address this issue, I doubt if some states will not be hotter than Democratic Republic of Congo.

Choi. This Chinese people... I wonder why the Chinese contractors didn't opt for military protection, rather than using militants? 🤔

This dudes can speak Hausa fluently, one was pricing suya real good. Local man was shocked

So these Chinese people left their underdeveloped villages to come to paradise called Nigeria?
They attack Igbo traders but treat Chinese illegal miners like God. Mumu Nigerians

This is old news funny thing is the federal government is aware buh they turned a blind eye. Who remeber when the defence minister declared no fly zone in zamfara? Buh some peoples problem is peter obi and igbos. I nearly cried when i wanted to buy a crate of egg which is now 2700. We will suffer it together since we dont want to reason like a human being. Inflation is now 22% but you yorubas should continue fighting obi and igbos

Na today?

Under APC Government, lots of bad things happened in this country.

The punishment for such act in China is CAPITAL punishment, everyone behind such act should be killed, all of them .

Anything "China" hardly withstand the test of time and are often referred to as "fake". I really fear Chinese. They're dark in heart and can do anything for money. They also easily enslave people. I know that Nigeria's romance with China cannot be good

Noted

Okay.

Same thing they are doing all over Nigeria illegally mining gold.

Let's see if APC will agree with this news or attack Times

"Why can't these Chinese go and develop their baren country? they are not even respecting their host"

News don finish for Nairaland?

This is one of the reason I'm happy Nigerians voted Asiwaju at the poll.... E sure me say Nigeria don better...

Everybody has a price.

When Israel Adesanya said Nigeria is too corrupt, some people said he shouldn't have washed the dirty linen in public.....

Na the dirty linen dey public again.....

Even Former British PM said Nigeria is fantastically corrupt.......

Both Government, individuals including me and you....We all have a hint of corruption in us.

Ibrahimcoomasie:
Okay.

Same thing they are doing all over Nigeria illegally mining gold.

Not all over Nigeria bro. They can't try such in SE. If FG cannot give our local companies mining licence let everything remain there. Both Chinese illegal miners and Fulani herdsmen have something in common with Igbos. We are all economic hitmen, Invaders and imperialist. This is why fulani herders and Chinese illegal miners will forever avoid crossing the boarders into Igboland

k

H

Oil companies in Niger Delta does same, this isn't a news

Wow

Not only Chinese, Europeans as well

Currently Borno and NorthEast hotzone are freely being moved about by Europeans using Charity missionary as cover while they are directly into solid minerals



.

A govt that cannot name terror sponsors is a dead one.

They know our systems are corrupt from top to the bottom and they're using that against us....

I won't be surprised they're everywhere in African countries with mineral resources and bribing their way to steal from us because of betrayals, selfish and greedy people amongst us.....

Africa have a long way to go from the foundation to the top for it to be prosper.....

henro4niger:
Anything "China" hardly withstand the test of time and are often referred to as "fake". I really fear Chinese. They're dark in heart and can do anything for money. They also easily enslave people. I know that Nigeria's romance with China cannot be good

It can't be worse than the Christo Judeo Slave Masters & Colonialist. Who gave black race bibles in one hand and took away Africans as slaves with her scares resources with the other hand, kindly read Walter Rodney how Europe under developed Africa for in-depth analysis. Chinko still dey learn work, where Kiriyo dey.

Lie Mohammad go come say this news dey spoil Nigerian name....


But it's the truth....

I'm sure no group will attack The Times for this lol

Chinese paying terrorist to destroy another country.

Thank Good no be USAp

Ibrahimcoomasie:
Okay.

Same thing they are doing all over Nigeria illegally mining gold.

ilesa in osun state don suffer for this thing…

envelope has exchanged few hands and these Chinese citizens even have police escorts protecting them…

What a country…