What began as a routine fence reconstruction project at the United Evangelical Church in Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, quickly turned into a moment of fear and disbelief for church members and residents in the area.
Church members were digging the ground around the parsonage to make way for a new fence due to an ongoing road expansion by the state government when their tools struck a large metal object buried beneath the soil. At first, no one suspected danger. The object looked unusual but harmless, and one of the workers even carried it toward a nearby borehole.
It was at that moment that the priest in charge noticed something unsettling about the object’s shape and appearance. Sensing possible danger, he immediately warned everyone to stay away. Acting swiftly, he went to a nearby military unit to report the discovery.
Soldiers soon arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area, and carefully evacuated the suspected explosive device from the church premises. Their timely intervention likely prevented what could have been a devastating tragedy in a part of Aba that is usually busy with traders, worshippers, and passersby.
Witnesses said that if the object had detonated, more than 100 people and several buildings in the vicinity could have been affected. Residents and sympathisers who gathered at the scene expressed deep gratitude, noting that the alertness of the priest and the quick response of the military saved many lives.
The Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church, Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, confirmed the incident but said he was still awaiting a full briefing. A senior military officer in Aba also confirmed that Army headquarters had taken over the investigation.
