President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday condemned the bomb blasts at newspaper houses in Abuja and Kaduna, describing it as "ignoble, misguided, horrendous and wicked".

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Dr Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

The bomb blasts occurred on Thursday at ThisDay newspaper office in Abuja and the building housing ThisDay, Sun, and Moment newspapers in Kaduna.

The president reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to continue to uphold citizen's constitutional rights to freedom of expression and of press freedom in particular.

He said that criminal elements bent on instilling fear in the minds of Nigerians and foreigners would not succeed

Jonathan urged media practitioners not to be dissuaded from carrying out their fearless campaign for peace, justice and equity, saying that democracy could not flourish without press freedom.

He commiserated with the bereaved families and other innocent victims of the explosions.

The president also prayed Almighty God to grant succour to the bereaved in their moment of grief, and the souls of the departed, peaceful repose.

He assured Nigerians that his administration remained undeterred in its resolve to ensure the safety of lives and property at all times.

Meanwhile, the president is in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, attending an Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on the situation in Mali and Guinea-Bissau.

He is due back in Abuja later today.