Tragedy Averted: Soldiers Safely Evacuate Bomb from Busy Aba Church Premises, Saving Over 100 Lives

By Tgnews Reporter

Nigerian soldiers swiftly intervened to remove a large metal object suspected to be an unexploded bomb from the premises of the United Evangelical Church (UEC) in Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, averting what locals fear could have claimed over 100 lives.

The incident unfolded on Monday when church members were excavating the ground around the parsonage to construct a new perimeter fence. The work was necessitated by the ongoing state government expansion of the adjacent road, which required the removal of the old fence.

Eyewitnesses recounted how, during the digging, workers unearthed a heavy, unidentified metal object buried in the soil. Curious, one individual reportedly carried the strange item toward a nearby water borehole for better inspection. However, the priest in charge quickly grew suspicious and urgently warned everyone to stay clear, suspecting it might be explosive.

Acting decisively, the priest contacted a nearby military unit. Soldiers promptly arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area, and professionally evacuated the suspected device without incident.

A senior military officer in Aba later confirmed the operation, stating that Army headquarters have since taken over the investigation to determine the object’s origin and nature.

The area around the church is typically bustling with traders, passersby, and worshippers, making the potential impact catastrophic.

Sympathizers gathered at the scene expressed profound gratitude to God for the timely discovery and the unexploded state of the object, noting that an explosion could have destroyed lives and property on a massive scale.

Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church, confirmed the incident but said he was still awaiting a detailed briefing from the priest in charge of the Ehere/Umuola branch.

Efforts to reach the Army Public Relations Officer of the 14 Brigade in Ohafia were unsuccessful at the time of this report.

This close call has sparked relief and reflection among residents, with many attributing the narrow escape to divine intervention and the quick response of both the church leadership and security forces.

Authorities continue to probe the circumstances surrounding how the device came to be buried at the location, amid speculation it could be a remnant from historical conflicts in the region.