What could have been a day of unimaginable tragedy turned into one of relief and thanksgiving after a deadly bomb was discovered and safely evacuated from the premises of the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba.
Eyewitnesses recounted the tense moments when church members, digging near the parsonage fence to make way for a government road expansion project, unearthed a large metal object. At first, it seemed like scrap. But when one of the workers carried it toward a nearby borehole, the presiding priest’s instincts kicked in.
“The pastor suddenly shouted for everyone to stop,” said an eyewitness. “He suspected it was a bomb and told us to stay far away. That warning saved lives.”
The priest immediately alerted a military unit in Aba. Within minutes, soldiers stormed the parsonage and carefully evacuated the object, later confirmed to be an unexploded bomb.
A Narrow Escape
Residents and sympathizers who gathered at the scene were visibly shaken. Many pointed out that the area is usually crowded with traders, worshippers, and passersby.
“If that thing had gone off, not less than 100 people would have died instantly,” said one sympathizer, his voice trembling. “Buildings, shops, even the church itself would have been reduced to rubble. We can only thank God.”
Another eyewitness explained the circumstances:
“The road which divides the church building and the parsonage is being expanded by the state government. The church decided to remove the old fence and build a new one. It was while digging for the new fence that they found the bomb. Nobody knew what it was until the pastor called the soldiers.”
Official Reactions
Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church, confirmed the incident but said he was awaiting a full briefing from the local priest.
Efforts to reach the Army Public Relations Officer of the 14 Brigade, Ohafia, were unsuccessful at press time. However, a senior military officer in Aba confirmed the discovery and disclosed that Army headquarters has taken over the investigation.
Community Relief
For the residents of Ogbor Hill, the incident is a chilling reminder of hidden dangers beneath everyday life. Yet, it also became a story of faith, vigilance, and providence.
“This is nothing short of divine intervention,” said a woman clutching her child. “We were spared from disaster. Today, we are alive to tell the story.”
The community now waits anxiously for answers: How did such a deadly object end up buried beneath a church fence? And could there be more hidden dangers lurking underground?