Bomb Scare: Soldiers Avert Mass Casualties at Abia Church

Quick intervention by soldiers has averted a potential tragedy following the discovery of a suspected explosive device at the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State.

Eyewitnesses said the object was uncovered while church members were digging around the parsonage fence in preparation for constructing a new fence to accommodate an ongoing road expansion by the state government. The large metal object was reportedly mistaken for scrap and moved closer to a nearby borehole before the priest in charge raised the alarm, suspecting it could be a bomb.

The priest was said to have immediately alerted a military unit in Aba, prompting soldiers to arrive at the scene and evacuate the suspected explosive safely.

An eyewitness explained that the area is usually busy with traders and pedestrians, noting that a detonation could have resulted in significant loss of life and destruction of property. Sympathisers who gathered at the scene expressed gratitude that the object did not explode, estimating that more than 100 people could have been affected.

Confirming the incident, the Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church (UEC), Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, said he was aware of the development but was yet to receive full details from the priest in charge of the church.

Efforts to reach the Army Public Relations Officer of the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. However, a senior military officer in Aba confirmed the evacuation and disclosed that Army headquarters has taken over investigations into the incident.