By James
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Over 100 lives were reportedly saved following the discovery of a suspected bomb at the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that church members were digging around the parsonage to replace an old fence when they unearthed a large metal object. One member reportedly moved the object near a nearby water borehole before the priest in charge realized it could be an explosive and immediately warned everyone to stay away.
A source said the priest quickly alerted a nearby military unit, prompting soldiers to rush to the scene and safely evacuate the object.
An eyewitness explained: “The state government is expanding the road separating the church building and the parsonage. The church decided to remove the old fence to accommodate the road expansion. While digging for the new fence, they uncovered a metal object, which nobody initially knew was a bomb. The pastor then invited soldiers, who evacuated it safely.”
Sympathizers at the scene expressed gratitude to God for averting a disaster, noting that the area is usually crowded with traders and passersby, and that both lives and property could have been destroyed.
Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church (UEC), confirmed the incident but said he was yet to receive a full report from the Ehere/Umuola Church priest.
Attempts to reach the Army Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, were unsuccessful at the time of filing.
However, a senior military officer in Aba confirmed the event and said the Army headquarters has taken over the investigation.
Vanguard
