The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack at a graduation ceremony of medical students in Mogadishu, Somalia on Thursday.

News Agency of Nigeria reported that the council adopted a presidential statement in condemning the action.

It stated, ”We condemn in the strongest terms the killing of innocent civilians and three Somali government ministers. This was a criminal attack on people dedicated to building a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the people of Somalia.”

The UN also called for “a thorough investigation” so that the perpetrators of the attack could be brought ””swiftly to justice.”

According to media reports, the suicide bomb explosion killed 57 people, including the ministers of health, higher education and education as well as graduating students and journalists.