The federal government has banned mining activities in Zamfara state, ordering foreigners within mining sites to vacate the area immediately.
The government has also launched a special operation to stop bandits in the state.
Mohammed Adamu, acting inspector-general of police, disclosed this while addressing state house correspondents after a security meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja, the cable reports.
Adamu said the licences of individuals and companies that disobey the directive to stop the activities would be revoked.
The development comes 24 hours after some protesters marched to the Aso Rock to draw attention to the security situation in Zamfara.
Many have been killed while property worth millions of naira have been destroyed in attacks by armed men.
