The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has revoked 924 dormant mineral licences.

The Minister of Solid Development Minerals, Dele Alake, disclosed this information at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

The revoked licences include 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences and 273 small-scale mining licences.

Last November, the ministry revoked 1,633 mineral titles previously given to non-complying mining companies.

READ ALSO: German Police Arrest 11 Nigerians For Dating Scam, Money Laundering

The minister also promised to clean up the solid minerals sector for international competitiveness and urged all stakeholders who have acted wrongly in this sector to turn a new leaf.

But speaking at the briefing, Alake said the ministry decided after identifying a problem of licence racketeering among players in the sector.

He said, “In line with constitutional provisions, we ensured that adequate notice was given to the concerned parties through the official gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria no 227 which was published on December 27, 2023.

READ ALSO: Multichoice Hikes DStv, GOtv Prices

“This notice gave all concerned parties 30 days to regularise their status including clarifications on what caused the licence to be dormant.

“In view of the above, which shows our adherence with due process and fair consideration and in line with the standard policy of use it or lose it, I hereby revoke the 924 dormant licences with immediate effect.

“These include 528 exploration licences, 20 mining leases, 101 quarry licences and 273 small-scale mining licences.”

German Police have arrested 11 Nigerian nationals suspected to be members of a Black Axe group behind a large-scale dating scam and money laundering.

The Bavarian police in a statement on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, said that the gang was involved internationally in “multiple areas of criminal activity” with a focus in Germany on dating scams and money laundering.

The police said the dating trick was a “modern form of marriage fraud”, adding that “Using false identities, the fraudsters for example signalled their intention to marry and in the course of further contact repeatedly demand money under various pretexts,”

READ ALSO: B-I-Z-A-R-R-E! Mother Sets Self, Two Daughters Ablaze

The police further said that the money was subsequently transferred to Black Axe in Nigeria “via financial agents.”

According to the authorities, in the process, the gang used a “commodity-based money laundering” scheme where products, often with a seeming “charitable purpose” were bought and delivered to Nigeria.

Police added that 450 cases of dating and love scams were reported in the Bavaria region in 2023 with the damages rising to 5.3 million euros ($ 5.7 million).

READ ALSO: Former Manchester United Striker, Carlos Tevez Rushed To Hospital

The police said that the suspects, who all held Nigerian citizenship and were aged between 29 and 53, were arrested in nationwide raids on Tuesday, explaining that law enforcement agents swooped on 19 properties, including both homes and asylum shelters.

The police added that the Black Axe gang had “strict hierarchical structures under leadership in Nigeria” operating different territorial units, stressing that the group had a “significant influence” on politics and public administrations, in particular in Nigeria.

It was said that globally, the gang’s main areas of operation were “human trafficking, fraud, money-laundering, prostitution and drug trafficking”.

The police said that the action against Black Axe was the first of its kind in Germany.

A woman identified as Gift Azubuike has been apprehended and is currently in custody at the Kwale Divisional Police Headquarters, Delta State, for alleged mistreatment of a child under her care.

Her maltreatment of the helpless child has already sparked outrage, just as concerned citizens and advocacy groups have called for justice.

Reports suggest that Azubuike had been subjecting the child (names withheld) to daily abuse, as confirmed by testimonies from neighbours who witnessed the situation.

READ ALSO: Bullying: Abuja School Shut, Victim May Sue

Harrison Gwamnishu, a human rights advocate, representing the Human Rights Office in Asaba, disclosed this on his X account on Wednesday.

According to Gwamnishu, the woman reportedly boasted that she held complete authority over the child and remained beyond the reach of any governing body.

“Well, she has been arrested and is currently detained at Kwale Divisional Police Headquarters (Delta State),” he said.

READ ALSO: Woman Reveals Secret To Longevity As She Celebrates 106th Birthday

He urged authorities to facilitate the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba, the state capital.

The incident has sparked outrage among online users, with many expressing their shock and disgust.

One user, Benkingsley Nwashara, wrote, “I’m speechless. Devils really exist physically.”

Chee wrote, “I can never give my child out to anyone, why are women so cruel.”

IT King said, “Genetic bitterness and wickedness are perilous pandemic.”