By Nnamdi Ojiego

President Goodluck Jonathan has formally commiserated with the families, people and governments of Britain and Italy over the the death of their citizens, Chris McManus, (British) and Franco Lamorina, (Italian) who were killed on Thursday by their Boko Haram captors in Sokoto State after being held captive for over eight months.

In two separate letters of condolence to David Cameron and Mario Monti, the Prime Ministers of Britain and Italy respectively, which were delivered through diplomatic channels, President Jonathan said that the hearts of the people and government of Nigeria go out to the members of the immediate families of the victims in their moment of grief, while praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

President Jonathan

President Jonathan also assured the leaders of both countries that “the Nigerian Government remains resolutely committed to facing up squarely to the challenge of terrorism on our shores and in the international community.”

While describing as “invaluable” the cooperation the Nigerian Government had enjoyed from both Prime Ministers in the fight against terrorism in the country, the President expressed the belief that the special relations and strong ties that exist among the three nations “can only grow deeper and stronger.”