#BringBackOurGirls protests banned in Nigerian capital

"I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness," said Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu

Published June 3, 2014 2:42PM (EDT)

       (AP/Sunday Alamba)
(AP/Sunday Alamba)

It has been nearly two months since 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram militants from their school in northern Nigeria, and most remain missing. In the wake of the mass kidnapping, protests in the capital city of Abuja have been a channel for parents and activists to express their grief and outrage -- and demand accountability and action from the Nigerian government. But police have just banned the protests entirely.

The protests pose "a serious security threat," according to Commissioner Joseph Mbu, per a report from CNN. "I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness.

"Information reaching us is that too soon dangerous elements will join the groups under the guise of protest and detonate explosive(s) aimed at embarrassing the government. Accordingly protests on the Chibok Girls is hereby banned with immediate effect."

 

 


By Katie McDonough

Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

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