20101226
xinhua

ABUJA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Abuja condemned the bomb blast in Jos, describing the action as wrong at a time when the world was celebrating Christmas.

The Nigerian leader made the condemnation when the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Bala Mohammed in the company of the Vice- President Namadi Sambo paid him Christmas visit.

He said the period was meant for peace and celebration and not a time for people to take revenge of any wrong doings.

"It is unfortunate that I got a report on the eve of Christmas of bomb blast in Jos," he said, noting that it was a very wrong period for anybody to decide to avenge any wrong thing or show any form of aggression.

According to him, Jesus was born to save mankind and bring peace and justice to humanity, saying the period was not for violence but to share food and gifts with one another in peace and love.

"We condole with the families of those who lost their lives and property in that attack and assure Nigerians that government will get to the root of this crisis and bring all those who are responsible to justice," the president told his audience.

President Jonathan said government would continue to do its best to transform the country and give her citizens a better living condition. He urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of forgiveness, just as Christ did, so that the nation could be in peace and grow in harmony.

The bomb blasts which hit Anguwan Rukuba, the Kabong Satllite Market and the flyover at Gada Biyu, left scores of people dead with many people injured.

The blast came one week after a Nigerian court sentenced 15 persons to 10 years each in prison for involvement of the violent crisis in Jos in March.

Jos was plunged in a pool of blood on March 7, when members of local Muslim and Christian communities fought each other in revenge for previous killings.

Police said 109 people were slain in the March 7 tragedy, mostly women and children, weeks after hundreds died in waves of sectarian violence in the region.