The UN Security Council on Thursday condemned "in the strongest terms" an attack against a United Nations monitoring team near the Nigeria-Cameroon border on Jan. 31.

"The members of the Security Council called on the Governments of Nigeria and Cameroon to swiftly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice," the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement issued here.

An unknown armed group attacked the UN team at about 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, with one UN independent contractor, three Nigerians nationals and one Cameroonian national being killed and others injured.

The council members expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of victims, as well as to the government of Nigeria and the government of Cameroon, and to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, the statement said. "They paid tribute to the UN employees who risk their lives."

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," the statement said.

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

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," the statement said.

"They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts."

The members of the Security Council also stressed the importance that Cameroon and Nigeria take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and staff operating in their territories.

source: Xinhua