Bus station blast near Nigerian capital kills 71

UNITED NATIONS -- The UN Security Council condemned on Monday the bomb explosion in a bus station in Nigeria, which killed 71 and injured 124 others.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed, and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," said a press statement.

According to eyewitnesses, a suicide bomber drove a station wagon into Nyanyan Motor Park on the outskirts of the Nigerian capital Abuja and detonated the bombs which directly hit some luxury buses and other vehicles in the garage.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials blamed the explosion on Boko Haram, a sect which has been responsible for major killings in the West African country since 2009.

The 15-member UN body reaffirmed the need to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice," said the statement.

Early in the day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "shocked and saddened" by the attack and strongly condemned "all indiscriminate killings and acts of violent extremism."