Abia Police Deny Explosive Discovery at Church, Refute Pastor’s Claims

The Abia State Police Command has insisted that no explosive device was found at the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, countering claims by Associate Pastor Eleazar Onyenweaku.

The pastor had claimed that workers digging a foundation for a new fence uncovered a metallic object, which he believed was dangerous. He said he alerted the nearby military base, and an Army team reportedly removed the item, warning of potential additional devices. Onyenweaku called on the state government to conduct a full scan of the church grounds and strengthen security.

Some church elders backed the pastor, noting that the Department of State Services had visited the site for preliminary checks.

The police, however, rejected the pastor’s account, emphasizing that he is not trained in explosive detection. Commissioner Danladi Isa explained that inspections by the Divisional Police Officer and the Explosive Ordnance Department confirmed that only iron rods—part of the church’s fence—had been removed for road construction purposes, with no explosives found.

Isa reaffirmed the police’s commitment to public safety and urged residents to continue their activities while cooperating with authorities on security matters.

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