Fear and confusion continue to grip the Ogbor Hill community in Aba, Abia State, following a heated dispute between church officials and security agencies over the alleged discovery of an explosive device at a local church, as reported by Vanguard today.
The controversy began on January 30, 2026, when labourers excavating the foundation for a new perimeter fence at the United Evangelical Church (UEC) on Ehere/Umuola Road unearthed a heavy metallic object. The excavation was necessitated by a government directive for the church to adjust its boundaries due to ongoing road expansion in the commercial city.
Associate Pastor Eleazar Onyenweaku, who witnessed the discovery, insisted the object was a live bomb. Drawing from his experience living in Northern Nigeria, Onyenweaku noted that the device appeared relatively new and still had its safety ring intact. He immediately contacted a nearby military unit, bypassing the police because he believed the Army was better equipped to handle high-level explosives.
The Abia State Police Command has vigorously denied these claims. In a series of official statements, Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa described the report as a ruse. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, stated that thorough investigations conducted through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) covering the area confirmed that no explosive was recovered.
According to the police, the object removed by the military was merely an iron rod—a remnant of a pillar from the church's old structure. Commissioner Isa further suggested the "bomb" narrative may have been a misunderstanding or a distraction linked to the church's initial reluctance to comply with the road construction setback.
However, the church leadership has fired back, accusing the police of trivialising a life-threatening incident. Pastor Onyenweaku challenged the police account, claiming that no officer visited the site before the initial denial was issued.
Adding to the complexity, the Abia State government has offered a middle-ground explanation. Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (retd), the Security Adviser to the Governor, confirmed that an explosive device was indeed dug up but sought to douse the panic. He identified the object as an "antiquated, expended 96 mm propelled grenade round" that had already been detonated and posed no immediate threat.
Despite the government's attempt to provide clarity, the Nigerian Army has remained largely silent, refusing to issue a formal public statement confirming the nature of the device. This silence has fuelled anxiety among residents and traders in Ogbor Hill, who fear that more explosives could be buried in the vicinity.
Civil society groups and security experts have called for a more transparent, joint investigation. Comrade Nelson Nwafor, Executive Director of FENRAD, warned that conflicting narratives between the police and the military erode public trust and could lead to a dangerous lapse in vigilance.
As of February 11, 2026, the church continues to demand a public apology from the police, while the community remains on edge, caught between the reassuring words of officials and the stark warnings of those who stood at the edge of the excavation pit.