The Abia State Police Command has denied the discovery of an object suspected to be an explosive at the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola,Ogbor Hill,Aba.

The Police, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed that an investigation conducted by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the area, indicated that no suspected bomb was found in the area, stressing that only an iron rod part of a pillar of the fence was discovered.

However, Vanguard gathered that members of the church who were digging to erect a new fence following a road expansion work on Okiriko lane area by the state government,had discovered an object suspected to be a bomb near the parsonage and invited soldiers from a nearby military unit who evacuated it.

In an interview with Vanguard,Board Chairman of the Ehere/Umuola Church,Elder Ariomnwa Amadi, who confirmed the incident disclosed that the church held a thanksgiving service last Sunday to express gratitude to God for saving members from what he described an averted national tragedy.

Elder Amadi confirmed that the church members were digging to make way for a new fence when they discovered the suspected object and alerted soldiers who stormed the church and evacuated the object.

Asked if it looked like an object planted during the civil war , the board chairman said;” Nobody knows if it was an object planted during the civil war,but the soldiers who evacuated it asked us to thank God for the evacuation. That the effect would have been too disastrous if it has exploded. They also told us that the suspected bomb has a capacity of going 2 kilometer radius in destruction.This was why we held a thanksgiving service last Sunday to thank God for saving our lives. It would have been a national tragedy but God showed us mercy , nobody was even injured,not to talk of losing a life.”

The Police said;”I can authoritatively confirm that no bomb or explosive was recovered from the said area. Thorough investigations conducted through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) covering the area have affirmed this.

“The church, which had encroached on the road currently being reconstructed by the government, was asked to move back slightly to create space for the project. This directive was not complied with, prompting the military to intervene to ensure compliance. During the process, an iron rod part of a pillar of the church structure that was being adjusted was removed by the military.

“Therefore, there was nothing resembling a bomb or explosive recovered anywhere in Aba.

“The Police, as the lead internal security agency, remain vigilant in ensuring the protection of lives and property. Officers of the Command are active, alert, and strategically deployed across the state to maintain safety and security.” (Vanguard)