"Zamfara Violence: Nigerian govt bans mining activities in troubled state", 7 April 2019.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a total ban on mining activities in Zamfara State and its environs. The decision is part of fresh measures to restore peace to the state bedevilled by banditry. Hundreds of people have been killed or kidnapped by the bandits in Zamfara in the past year...There have been suspicions that the criminality is a fallout of the artisanal mining of gold and lead in the state...Mr Adamu also announced that “all foreigners within mining sites are to leave immediately.” He said all the sites will be taken over by a special task force comprising of relevant security agencies...The decision also comes a day after dozens of people led by a prominent journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, marched in Abuja to protest the violence in Zamfara.