Following Wednesday’s bomb blast in Abuja that left 21 people dead and rendered many injured, President Goodluck Jonathan immediately suspended his plans to attend an African Union (AU) summit in Equatorial Guinea, and will return to Nigeria Thursday.
President Jonathan travelled to the Central African nation on Wednesday for the A.U. meeting just as a blast hit Emba plaza, a busy shopping complex in Wuse 2, Abuja.
Police authorities have said 21 persons had been confirmed dead
and 17 injured. The Force spokesperson, Mr. Frank Mba, also said one suspect was arrested.
The Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati on Wednesday debunked an earlier story about the president?s decision to continue the trip amid the explosion.
Mr. Abati denied that the president travelled while Abuja was attacked.
He said the president departed Abuja 3.30 pm Wednesday, which would mean about 30 minutes before the blast. Witnesses had said
the bomb occurred at about 4p.m.
He said the president and his entourage were arriving at their hotel in Malabo, the Equatorial
Guinean capital, when they received news of the attack.
The president took an immediate decision to return to Nigeria early Thursday, Mr. Abati said.
Jonathan travelled left to participate in the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union?s Summit of Heads of State and Government, Abati said in a statement.
He was accompanied by his wife, Patience, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Water Resources, Health and Industry Trade and Investment.
The president had earlier planned to return on Friday.
