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Nigerian president condemns attack on French magazine

Xinhua, January 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday condemned Wednesday's terrorist attack on a French satirical news magazine, Charlie Hebdo, saying that it was a monstrous assault on the right to freedom of expression.

At least 12 people died when masked gunmen stormed the magazine building in Paris and opened fire on the staff.

Among the dead were eight journalists, including the magazine's editor, a police officer and three others.

The Nigerian leader described the attack as heinous, senseless and totally unjustifiable, noting that the incident was another reason for lovers of peace, progress and freedom across the globe to unite and "rout the agents of darkness and retrogression."

He said Nigeria joins the rest of the civilized world in condemning the heinous, senseless and totally unjustifiable killing of journalists and other persons during the attack on Charlie Hebdo.

Jonathan assured President Francois Hollande and the people of France of Nigeria's full solidarity with them as they mourned the dead.

According to him, France has been a strong ally and dependable partner in strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa as a whole.

Jonathan pledges that his administration will continue to work with the French government and other friendly governments in all continents to end the scourge of global terrorism. Endi