Nigeria President Puts Death Toll From Abuja Blast at 10

Nigerian Interim President Goodluck Jonathan of the Niger Delta has been selected by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to run for national office in the upcoming elections.
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Nigeria President puts death toll from Abuja blast at 10

Abuja, Nigeria - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan revealed on Sunday that 10 Nigerians died from Friday's blast, near the Eagle Square in Abuja, as the nation marked the 50th anniversary of its independence. The figure is higher than the 8 deaths announced by the police shortly after the car bomb explosions claimed by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

President Jonathan spoke at a special thanksgiving service at the Christian Ecum enical Centre in the Nigerian capital to mark the end of activities for the nation's 50th anniversary.

He said the deaths should challenge the citizens to 'work hard to change our na tion' instead of dampening the spirits, and pledged that his government would leave no stone unturned until 'we unearth them (perpetrators) so that we know the true colour of these demons that are with us.'

Calling the perpetrators of the bomb blasts 'demons and enemies of progress', President Jonathan said the victims of the blast did not die in vain.

'They (victims) have paid the supreme sacrifice to reveal the demons among us,' said the President, who was embarrassed by the country's power company PHCN, which took power as he read his sermon - a common occurrence in Africa's most populous nation.

'It (power failure) is a good thing. It reminds me that that is the number one thing in this country; that we must not rest until we solve it,' the President said.

Earlier on Saturday, President Jonathan said the bombing was perpetrated by 'a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria that was paid by some people within to perpetrate the dastardly act.'

He said MEND had nothing to do with the blast, contrary to its claim of responsi bility.

Abuja - Pana 03/10/2010