SA condemns Nigeria bombings

Pretoria - South Africa has added its voice to the many that have condemned the bombings that took place during Nigeria's independence anniversary celebrations on Friday.

The explosions rocked the area near Abuja's Eagle Square, timed to coincide with the country's 50th independence anniversary festivities. It however failed to halt celebrations attended by the country's leaders and foreign delegations.

Nigeria's main militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was reported to have claimed responsibility for the twin car bomb blasts that killed at least 12 people, while wounding others.

Their reason is that "for 50 years the people of Niger Delta have had their land and resources stolen from them" and that "there is nothing worth celebrating".

Senior researcher with the Institute for Security Studies, Nelson Alusala, said the bombings - which ironically occurred about the same time as President Jonathan was expressing optimism about the future of the nation- raise the question of security in the nation's capital city.

"These security implications are not only for Nigeria but the region of the west African nation and Africa as a whole," he said.

"To think this is happening raises a lot of fear and speculation on the side of the general public," said Alusala.

However, he said these bombings should not cause speculation that the elections will not be peaceful - as he believed the country has learned from its own history.

Alusala did not foresee similar bombings in the run up or during next years' elections.

"The general trend is that elections now in Africa are becoming more and more peaceful and with a lot of lessons being learned from other countries," said Alusala.

International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, condemned the attack saying the reality is that nobody can change history.

The minister said the country has reached a level of maturity - they have conquered colonisation and have done away with military government.

"Nigeria has had an experience of running a successful government and we want this democratic government to succeed -for the people of Nigeria and the continent. Africans are sick and tired of witnessing coups," Nkoana-Mashabane said.

President Goodluck Jonathan called the blasts a "wicked act of desperation by criminals and murderers who do not wish Nigeria well".

A former leader of the Niger Delta militant group has been arrested in South Africa. Henry Okah was originally detained in Angola three years ago and transferred to Nigerian custody before he was released last year as part of a Niger Delta amnesty programme. He is due in court on Monday. -BuaNews-Xinhua