The Abia State Police Command has debunked widespread reports that a bomb or improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered at the United Evangelical Church in Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba. According to a statement released on February 3, 2026 by Police Public Relations Officer DSP Maureen Chinaka, a thorough investigation by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area confirmed that no explosive was found anywhere in the church premises or elsewhere in Aba ¹ ² ³.
The controversy began when church members, while digging a foundation for a new perimeter fence, unearthed a large metal object. The church was encroaching on a road under reconstruction by the state government and had been instructed to adjust its structure to create space for the project. When the church failed to comply, military personnel intervened to enforce the adjustment. During the process, an old iron rod that was part of a pillar in the church’s old fence was removed by the military, but it was not a bomb or any dangerous explosive ¹ ² ⁴.
Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa emphasized that the police, as the lead internal security agency in Abia State, remain vigilant and committed to protecting lives and property. He assured the public that officers are active and strategically deployed across the state to maintain safety ¹ ² ³.
The police clarification comes after panic spread among residents and worshippers in Aba following media reports of a bomb scare. The authorities have urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information ¹ ².