A major tragedy was narrowly avoided in Aba, Abia State, after a suspected explosive device was discovered within the premises of the United Evangelical Church (UEC), Ehere/Umuola, located at Ogbor Hill.
The object was reportedly uncovered on Monday during excavation work around the church parsonage, where members were digging to erect a new perimeter fence.
The construction followed the ongoing expansion of a road separating the church building from the parsonage.
According to eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard, the workers initially mistook the item for scrap metal.
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One of them was said to have moved it toward a nearby borehole before the priest in charge became alarmed and suspected it might be an explosive device. He immediately cautioned everyone to stay away from the object.
Sources said the priest promptly reported the discovery to a military formation in Aba, prompting the deployment of soldiers to the site. The security personnel later evacuated the object from the church premises.
An eyewitness explained that the fence reconstruction was necessary to accommodate the government road project, adding that the dangerous object was found buried underground during the excavation.
The swift intervention of the priest and the military, the witness said, prevented a possible disaster.
Residents and sympathisers who gathered near the church expressed relief and gratitude, noting that the area is usually busy with traders, worshippers, and pedestrians.
They estimated that a large number of lives and properties could have been affected if the object had detonated.
Confirming the incident, the Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church, Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, said he was aware of the development but had not yet received a detailed report from the priest overseeing the Ehere/Umuola congregation.
A senior military officer in Aba confirmed the recovery of the object and disclosed that the Army Headquarters has taken over investigations to determine its origin and nature.
