The Federal Government has given all foreigners involved in mining activities in Zamfara State 48 hours to leave the sites.
The FG announced the ban as part of measures to restore peace in the state.
Bandits have been attacking villages in Zamfara for almost two years now.
Hundreds have been killed while several others have been kidnapped for ransom.
The bandits also often destroy houses and properties of villagers.
Nigerians staged protests in Abuja and other cities on Saturday demanding urgent action to end killings by the bandits.
Following the protests, President Muhammadu Buhari said ending banditry remains a priority of his administration and he would do whatever it takes to save lives.
He, however, called on Nigerians not to politicise the matter.
The decision to ban mining and sack foreigners from sites was revealed by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, on Sunday while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja.
Adamu said the government took the measure because intelligence reports “clearly established a strong and glaring nexus between the activities of armed bandits and illicit miners -with both mutually re-enforcing each other”.
Announcing that mining activities in Zamfara and other affected states are suspended with immediate effect, the IGP said: “any mining operator who engages in mining activities in the affected locations henceforth will have his licence revoked.
“All foreigners operating in the mining fields should close and leave within 48hours”.
