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Aba Church Drama: Police, Pastor Disagree Over ‘Explosive’ Discovery.
The Abia State Police Command has dismissed claims by an associate pastor of the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuola, Ogbor Hill, Aba, that officers lied about the alleged recovery of an explosive device on the church premises.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement released on Wednesday, Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa, through the Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, reiterated that no bomb or explosive was recovered from the site.
The clarification comes after Associate Pastor Eleazar Onyenweaku publicly challenged the police’s position and called for an independent investigation. Onyenweaku claimed that a dangerous explosive device was uncovered on Friday by workers digging the foundation for a new perimeter fence around the church parsonage, a construction prompted by a government directive to adjust structures for a road expansion project.
The pastor said he initially believed the metallic object to be scrap metal but recognized it as an explosive due to prior experience in Northern Nigeria. He explained that the item was isolated near a plantain stand before he took photographs and reported it to the Ndoki Primary School military base, after failing to reach military contacts directly.
According to Onyenweaku, an Army team led by a captain later confirmed the object was dangerous, removed it in a Hilux vehicle, and warned that additional devices might be buried in the area. He rejected suggestions that it could be a relic of the Nigerian Civil War, noting its relatively new appearance, and appealed to Governor Alex Otti to conduct a thorough scan of the premises and bolster security for worshippers.
Supporters of his account, including Elder Andy Amadi and Deacon Obioma Adiele, added that operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) in Umuahia had also visited the site and urged authorities not to downplay the incident.
In response, the Abia State Police Command faulted the pastor’s claims, noting that he is not trained in bomb detection. The commissioner explained that the Divisional Police Officer of Ogbor Hill Division, acting on actionable intelligence, visited the area and met a church member, Mr. Ezumini, who said the object removed by the military was merely an iron rod from the church pillars, taken in compliance with the road construction directive.
Isa added that both the DPO and personnel from the Explosive Ordnance Department thoroughly inspected the site and found no explosive device or threat. He also confirmed that the police have yet to receive formal notification of any alleged recovery.
The commissioner stressed that the Explosive Ordnance Department had been deployed to comb the area to ensure public safety. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting residents and urged the public to cooperate with security agencies, remain calm, and continue their lawful activities.
Bamidele Kehinde, Director of Dynamic Ambassadors for Social Orientation Initiatives and the City Transformation Project, has expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria for its efforts in securing the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who was reportedly held in detention in the Republic of Benin for over two years under difficult conditions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Pastor Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric, was said to have endured harsh treatment during his detention, including prolonged confinement. His release followed a presidential pardon granted by the authorities in Benin Republic under President Patrice Talon.
Speaking on News Central TV, Dr. Kehinde praised the diplomatic efforts that led to the cleric’s freedom, describing the process as lengthy and challenging. He noted that significant progress was achieved after Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
He stated that although there was no personal connection or financial influence involved, the minister actively engaged Benin Republic authorities through diplomatic channels. According to him, her visit and negotiations played a key role in securing Pastor Egbaji’s release.
Dr. Kehinde also commended all individuals and institutions that contributed to the advocacy efforts, including Moses Eyo, Dickson Umu Unung, the Cross River State Government, CP Alobi Lawrence (rtd), Joseph Bisong Ayi, Blessing Harrison, Eze Sampson, and Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo.
He said their combined efforts were instrumental in achieving the cleric’s freedom.
He added that while Egbaji’s release is a major relief, the cleric now faces the task of recovering and rebuilding his life after years of hardship. He called for continued support to help him reintegrate into society.
Dr. Kehinde also urged stronger government commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and enhancing diplomatic engagement across West Africa to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has provided an update on its ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The board stated that 1,120,491 applications were successfully completed and processed, allowing candidates to proceed to the computer-based test (CBT) stage.
It also disclosed that 432,935 applications were left incomplete, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified during screening and shortlisting for failing to meet the required criteria.
In total, the recruitment exercise recorded over 1.8 million applications across the country.
The exercise covers agencies under the board, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
CDCFIB also released a breakdown of CBT performance, showing that 221,996 candidates scored between 0–40, 229,155 scored between 41–60, 278,543 scored between 61–80, while 142,697 scored between 81–100.
The recruitment process is now expected to move to the next stage, which includes physical screening and document verification. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of their screening venues, dates, and required documents.
The board reiterated that the entire process is free of charge and advised applicants to rely only on official communication channels for updates, warning against misinformation and unauthorized messages circulating online.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted precise airstrikes in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, resulting in the elimination of several terrorist elements on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who noted that military operations in the North-East continue to maintain strong pressure on insurgent groups.
He explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence, supported by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, which identified active terrorist presence within fortified positions and underground hideouts.
According to him, NAF air platforms successfully engaged the targets using precision-guided munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and dismantling key logistics facilities. This was later confirmed through battle damage assessments.
The statement added that sustained air operations have continued to weaken terrorist networks, disrupting their activities and forcing them into more defensive and unstable responses.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining continuous, intelligence-driven operations aimed at completely neutralising terrorist threats.
He further assured that the NAF remains focused on protecting its personnel, safeguarding national security, and ensuring the safety of citizens, while continuing precision operations in line with strict rules of engagement to minimise civilian impact.
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