The Abia State Police Command has denied reports claiming that a bomb or Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was recovered at the United Evangelical Church in Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said thorough investigations conducted through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area found no evidence of any explosive device.
“I can authoritatively confirm that no bomb or explosive was recovered from the said area. Investigations conducted by the Command have clearly affirmed this,” Chinaka stated.
The police explained that the incident was connected to an ongoing road reconstruction project by the Abia State Government. According to the statement, the church had encroached on the road corridor and was directed to adjust its structure to allow the project to proceed.
When the directive was reportedly not complied with, the military intervened to ensure compliance. During the process, an iron rod, which formed part of a pillar of the church structure, was removed. The police stressed that the object was not a bomb or explosive, adding that no such device was recovered anywhere in Aba.
The Command reassured residents that it remains vigilant in protecting lives and property, noting that officers are active, alert, and strategically deployed across the state.
Earlier reports had claimed that a bomb scare at the church on Monday averted over 100 deaths, alleging that a dangerous object was discovered and evacuated by the military. The police, however, dismissed the claims as false and misleading.
