( CNN ) -- The 25 victims of the August 26 terrorist bombing of the United Nations House in Abuja , the Nigerian capital , were honored in a memorial ceremony on Thursday . Omabegho Edward-Dede , the 12-year-old surviving son of Dr. Edward Dede , a national professional officer with the World Health Organization , told the grieving crowd at the ceremony at the U.N. House premises that he is taking solace in his memories of his father . `` That fateful morning when I woke up , I did n't know we would hear such a news about the death of my father , '' Edward-Dede said . `` There are things that we do n't want to happen for which we have to accept ; things which we do n't want to know , but which we have to learn ; people we ca n't live without , but to circumstances like this , we have to let go . `` However , I take courage and strength when I remember the good life my father lived . '' Wreaths were placed to commemorate the victims , who were described as `` martyrs of development '' by Uzoma Ihedirimadu-Abudu , the president of the Federation of United Nations Staff Association of Nigeria . Officials representing the Nigerian government and the United Nations joined members of the diplomatic corps , the armed forces and family members of the victims at the ceremony . `` While we ensure the rehabilitation of the U.N. building , we will also bring all those responsible for this act to book , '' said Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ggenga Ashiru on behalf of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan . `` And we pray God will grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss . '' U.N. representative Daouda Toure said the deceased did not die in vain . `` They died because they believed in a world of peace , tolerance and social justice . Their deaths should spur all of us as one family to continue to live the ideals for which they died . '' According to official figures , 116 people also were injured in the incident , which occurred when a suicide bomber believed to be an adherent of the extremist Muslim group Boko Haram rammed a vehicle into the U.N. House . Of the dead , 11 were U.N. staff and 12 were unrelated to the U.N. Two bodies were not identified . Several of the injured were flown to South Africa for medical treatment .
Ceremony honors people who died in bomb attack in Nigeria . President 's 12-year - old son among speakers at ceremony . Suicide bomber thought to have been part of extremist group Abu Haram .