Suspected Bomb: Many Escape Death at Abia Church Premises

Scores of people narrowly escaped death after an object suspected to be an explosive device was discovered within a church premises in Aba, Abia State.
The incident occurred at the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba. According to eyewitness accounts, over 100 lives could have been lost if the object had detonated.

Witnesses told Vanguard that church members were digging around the parsonage fence in preparation for constructing a new fence when they unearthed a large metal object buried underground. Unaware of its nature, one of the members reportedly carried the object to a nearby borehole.
However, the priest in charge became suspicious and immediately warned everyone to stay away, suspecting that the object could be a bomb. He subsequently reported the matter to a military unit in the city.
Following the report, soldiers swiftly stormed the parsonage and safely evacuated the suspected explosive device.
An eyewitness explained that the road separating the church building from the parsonage is currently being expanded by the Abia State Government, prompting the church to dismantle its old fence to accommodate the project.
“It was during the excavation for the new fence that the metal object was discovered. Nobody initially knew it was a bomb until the pastor alerted the military, who later evacuated it,” the witness said.
Sympathisers and residents who gathered at the scene expressed gratitude to God that the object did not explode, noting that the area is usually crowded with traders and passersby. They added that not fewer than 100 people, along with nearby buildings, could have been destroyed.
Confirming the incident, the Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church (UEC), Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, said he was yet to receive a full briefing from the priest in charge of the Ehere/Umuola Church.
Attempts 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 incident and disclosed that the Army Headquarters has taken over the investigation. (Vanguard)