Nigerian president visits blast scene, condemns attack

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Friday visited scene of the June 25 shopping mall explosion that claimed at least 21 lives here and condemned the attack.

He said the attack was regrettable, as he went to assess the damage at the scene of the incident. He, thereafter, proceeded to a hospital in the city center where the victims are being treated.

"Nigerians are struggling, thinking about how to contribute to the nation's development and working very hard to take care of their families, while others are busy killing people," Jonathan said.

He further described the incessant attacks in parts of the West African country as "one of the darkest phases in the history" of Nigeria.

The Nigerian president had on Thursday shelved his participation at an African Union (AU) Summit in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, after reports of Wednesday's blast, according to a presidential spokesman.

Authorities said the attackers came on a bike and planted an improvised explosive device (IED) by the entrance of EMAB Shopping Plaza at a business district in the Nigerian capital.