Thisday bomb  attack  scene

By  OnwukaNzeshi 

The government of France Friday condemned the  attacks on ThisDay Newspapers and other media organisations in Abuja and Kaduna, which left at least 9 people dead and several others wounded.

French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alain Juppé, described  the  upsurge in terrorist attacks in Nigeria as  odious  and  a troubling development and conveyed  the  solidarity of France  with the government of  Nigeria and its people.

“By targeting several media outlets, these attacks seek to undermine press freedom and the freedom of expression, which are the cornerstones of democracy in Nigeria.

“France reaffirms its solidarity with Nigeria’s journalists and media whose courage it commends. France extends its wholehearted condolences to the bereaved, as well as to the editorial staff of the various media outlets affected, in particular ThisDay newspaper.

Meanwhile UK Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham described the bombings as appalling and an attack on freedom of speech in Nigeria.

In a statement released by the British High Commission in Abuja, Bellingham added that the independent press is a necessary part of any society and Nigerian journalists should feel able to report freely without fear of violence.