Nigeria's celebration of 50 years of independence has been marred by bomb blasts in Abuja. The bombs went off not far from Eagle Square, where the Nigerian "elite" had gathered for the official celebrations. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a militant group in the oil-rich south, issued a threat on Friday morning, saying it intended to bomb the event. President Goodluck Jonathan was inspecting a guard of honour at the time. In the message the group, which is demanding a fairer distribution of the country's oil revenues, said there was "nothing worth celebrating after 50 years of failure." If MEND militants are responsible for the blasts, it would be the first time that the group has targeted the capital. At least one of the dead is a police officer, and seven others have been confirmed dead. Reports suggest that more people have been killed and that the group has planted explosive devices throughout Abuja. Tragically, the celebrations have turned into a nightmare for many.
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