The United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, has stated that no policeman visited the church premises since the incident of suspected bomb discovery.
The police, in a statement by the State Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, had specifically stated that no suspected explosive was discovered at the scene.
The PPRO explained that only an iron rod part was found in the area, stressing that the military only visited the church to ensure that its members complied with road construction work in the area.
However, the board chairman of the church, Elder Ariomnwa Amadi, reportedly said he is surprised at the statement issued by the police over the incident, wondering how they came up with such a statement, even when soldiers were invited to evacuate the suspected explosive.
Amadi explained that he is not aware that any policeman of any capacity or rank has visited the premises since the incident.
He commended Vanguard newspaper for breaking the news of the incident and other media and security organisations for their visits to the church to confirm the incident.
He said: “No police officer, not even the lowest-ranked officer, has come to the church to investigate. The DSS has come; Vanguard Newspaper and CAN Abia State have all come. Magic FM Aba said they further enquired from the army that evacuated the explosive before airing it.
“But somebody is staying in her air-conditioned office to say the Church lied. What a pity. If they visited, which officer of the church did they meet with? It’s not enough to say police visited; who did they meet? They could not have visited without asking questions from the church officials who witnessed the incident. Maybe they came and didn’t ask for any official of the church.”