Pres. Goodluck Jonathan arrives in Nigeria, after cutting short his trip to the 23rd AU Summit in Malabo, following bombing of a shopping mall in the Capital City, which left at least 21 persons dead on Wednesday. 

Pres. Jonathan, arrived the country Thursday, with the First Lady and the Nigerian delegation to the Heads of States and Government of African Union 23rd Ordinary Session holding in. the Equatorial Guinea capital, Spokesperson Reuben Abati said. 

Condemnations by members of the International Community trailed the Abuja bomb explosion, in which 21 persons were killed and several critically injured. 

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon; EU in Brussels and the US Mission in Nigeria, issued separate statements condemning the attack, the third in Abuja in the last two months. 

UN Secretary-General, who is attending the AU summit in Equatorial Guinea, said he was appalled by the attack and offered his condolences to the bereaved families and the wounded. 

Mr. Ki-Moon “remains deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Nigeria,” said the statement. 

On its part, U.S government extended its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and called on all Nigerians to support efforts to put an end to “this evil against humanity.” 

“These heartless and violent attacks on innocent Nigerians are inexcusable and clearly bespeak the criminality of those behind the attacks”, the U.S Mission in Nigeria said. 

The US said it will continue to “support the people of Nigeria in their struggle against violent extremism, and help the government as it works to counter threats to citizens and national unity.” 

The EU demanded that the perpetrators of the attack be brought to justice and called for the release of all those kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorists. 

Smoke rises from vehicles as fire fighters try to put out a fire after a bomb exploded in a crowded shopping centre in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on June 25, 2014 leaving 21 dead and 17 wounded  AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

It said the EU had demonstrated increased support for Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and violence and would continue to stand by the Nigeria government. 

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Aminu Wali, is standing in for the President in scheduled meetings he was billed to attend on the sidelines of the 2-day AU summit, which ends on Friday.

The bomb which exploded in a crowded shopping centre Wednesday afternoon at the a Central Business District in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, left at least 21 people dead and 17 critically injured police and spokesperson said.