February 2, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters Staff Correspondent
UMUAHIA, Abia State, Nigeria — A potential mass-casualty incident was narrowly avoided on Monday after soldiers were called to evacuate an object suspected to be a bomb discovered at the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, in Aba, security and eyewitness accounts confirmed.
Church members unearthed a large metal object while digging around the parsonage to build a new fence. When one of the workers reportedly carried the object toward a water borehole, the priest-in-charge became alarmed and suspected it could be an explosive, warning everyone to keep their distance and immediately contacting the Nigerian Army for assistance.
A military unit from the vicinity responded swiftly, securing the scene and safely evacuating the suspected explosive device before it could detonate. Local residents and sympathizers said that more than 100 potential deaths and extensive property damage were averted by the intervention, as the area frequently draws traders, passersby, and worshippers.
Eyewitnesses explained that the road dividing the UEC church building from the parsonage was being expanded by the Abia State Government, prompting the demolition of the old fence and redistribution of soil. It was during this digging that the mysterious object was discovered buried beneath the ground.
A senior military source confirmed the incident and said that Army Headquarters has taken over the investigation, although the object posed no immediate explosive threat and was removed for documentation and further analysis. Church officials, including Rev. Thompson Ikpeoha, Secretary of the Aba Area Conference of the United Evangelical Church, supported the account but noted that full details were still being compiled.
Local residents expressed gratitude for the prompt military response, noting that without it, the densely populated area regularly filled with traders and worshippers could have experienced a devastating explosion.
Authorities did not immediately disclose whether formal charges or additional safety measures will be pursued in the aftermath, as investigations continue.