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ABUJA, Nigeria, June 2 (UPI) -- Citing concern that public rallies for the release of the seized Nigerian school girls were "now posing a serious security threat" in the Nigerian capital, Abuja police commissioner Joseph Mbu said that the rallies are now banned. The state run Agency of Nigeria quoted the police commissioner as expressing concern that the rallies, which he said had "degenerated," could invite unspecified "dangerous elements" to join them.
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Parents and families of the missing have criticized the Nigerian government for failing to dedicate sufficient resources to find the missing girls.
The BBC reported the Nigerian government called off a negotiated swap in late May that would have arranged for the release of some of the abducted school girls in exchange for imprisoned Islamist militants.
The social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls continues to grow, calling on swifter action to bring the girls back to safety. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, and Pakistani education rights activist Malala Yousafzai have all joined the campaign.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for abducting more than 230 girls from their school in Borno state on April 15.
