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Aba Church Bombing: Pastor Rejects Police Claims, Insists Incident Occurred, Was Not Fabricated

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Associate Pastor of the United Evangelical Church, Ehere/Umuole Aba, Pastor Eleazar Onyenweaku, has faulted the Abia State Police Command over its denial that an explosive was discovered within the church premises last Friday.

Pastor Onyenweaku, insisted that an explosive device was exhumed from the soil while workers were digging a foundation for a new perimeter fence around the church parsonage.

Recall that the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chinaka, had earlier issued a statement dismissing reports that a bomb or explosive was found at the church.

The police statement read in part:
“I can authoritatively confirm that no bomb or explosive was recovered from the said area. Thorough investigations conducted through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) covering the area have affirmed this.

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“The church, which had encroached on the road currently being reconstructed by the government, was asked to move back slightly to create space for the project. This directive was not complied with, prompting the military to intervene to ensure compliance.

“During the process, an iron rod, part of a pillar of the church structure being adjusted, was removed by the military. Therefore, there was nothing resembling a bomb or explosive recovered anywhere in Aba.”

The statement, however, said that the police, “as the lead internal security agency, remain vigilant in ensuring the protection of lives and property.”

Pastor Onyenweaku expressed shock over the police denial, questioning how such a conclusion was reached without officers visiting the church premises.

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He maintained that a team of soldiers, led by a Captain, evacuated the explosive after it was discovered, wondering how the police could dismiss what he described as a “factual and dangerous incident.”

Narrating the incident, the cleric said the church had engaged labourers to excavate a foundation for a new perimeter fence following a government directive to give way for road expansion.

According to him, the labourers were digging on Friday when one of them noticed a metallic object less than a foot beneath the soil surface.

He explained that the workers had been instructed to dig carefully because of underground water pipes supplying the parsonage, a precaution he said prevented a possible disaster.

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“Government marked our fence for demolition to allow road expansion, so we were asked to draw back and rebuild, which we complied with,” he said.

“While the workers were scraping the soil, not digging aggressively, one of them noticed something unusual. He initially thought it was scrap metal. As they discussed selling it, the site engineer came, collected it and began washing it at a tap to examine it.

“When I arrived and saw it, having lived in Northern Nigeria where I had seen explosives before, I immediately recognized it. I noticed that the safety ring was still intact. I shouted and quickly took the object to a plantain stand within the premises.”

The pastor said he immediately attempted to contact military personnel he knew, and when those efforts failed, he rushed to Ndoki Primary School where a military base is located.

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“I reported the incident and showed them photographs. They followed standard protocols, contacted their superiors, and accompanied me back to the church in a Hilux vehicle. After examining it, they confirmed it was a dangerous explosive, evacuated it, and advised us to exercise caution in case more were buried around the area,” he added.

Explaining why he did not first report the matter to the police, Pastor Onyenweaku said he believed the military was better equipped to handle explosives.

“I felt it was a military matter. I have not seen police handling launchers or explosives. So I reported to the Army, whom I believed could respond swiftly,” he said.

On whether any recent conflict had occurred in the area, the cleric said none had, adding that he doubted the device was a relic of the Nigerian Civil War.

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“I don’t think it was from the civil war because it was not rusted. It looked relatively new,” he noted.

While he said he was not directly suspecting anyone, the pastor appealed to the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough scan of the premises for possible additional explosives, stressing that church members now live in fear.

He disclosed that operatives who identified themselves as officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), alongside intelligence personnel from Umuahia, had visited the church and conducted preliminary inquiries.

Pastor Onyenweaku appealed to Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, to intervene, urging a comprehensive investigation and enhanced security around the church premises to forestall any future danger.

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Some elders of the church, Elder Andy Amadi, and Deacon Obioma Adielle, present during the visit, corroborated the account of the Associate Pastor, appealing to Government not to take the incident lightly.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the Security Adviser to the Governor, Navy Commander MacAnthony Ubah, were unsuccessful as he did not pick calls put across to him.

He had yet to respond to a text message sent to his phone as at the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Captain Mazinho Attah, promised to get back to our Correspondent on the matter.

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Tottenham fires head coach, Thomas Frank as club edges close to relegation

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Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with manager Thomas Frank after a disappointing run of results left the club hovering just five points above the relegation zone.

Frank’s departure comes after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, which saw the team slide to 16th place in the Premier League table with 29 points from 26 matches.

The decision to sack Frank was made due to the team’s poor performance, which saw them win just twice in their last 17 league games.

Despite being given time and support since his appointment in June 2025, Frank struggled to replicate his success at Brentford, where he consistently over-performed with limited resources.

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Recall that Frank was appointed as the new Tottenham head coach in June 2025, succeeding Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked despite winning the Europa League.

Frank’s tenure was marked by inconsistent results and setbacks, including a notable incident where he was seen drinking from a coffee cup bearing the badge of rivals Arsenal.

Frank won just 13 of his 38 games in charge, with a Premier League win percentage of 26.9%, the lowest of any Tottenham manager in the Premier League era.

The team’s fans had been vocal about their discontent with Frank, booing him and chanting for his sacking during Tuesday’s defeat.

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The club thanked Frank for his contribution and wished him well in the future.

With Frank’s departure, Tottenham are now searching for itheir sixth permanent manager in seven years, with potential candidates including Roberto De Zerbi, who recently left Marseille.

The team faces a tough challenge in the coming weeks, including a Premier League match against Arsenal on February 22.

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Primate Ayodele, set to commission Mosque on Saturday

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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has concluded plans to commission a mosque, which he single-handedly built, on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The commissioning will also commemorate his 21-day annual thanksgiving programme, which began in January and will end on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The mosque building, which the prophet announced plans for last year, is the first of its kind, as there has never been a prominent Christian leader reported to have built a mosque before now.

According to Primate Ayodele, his decision to build the mosque is not because he wants to change his religion, but rather a representation of a direction given to him by God many years ago.

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He explained that his church has been home to Muslim faithful, and at different times, he has been invited to preach at Muslim gatherings. Therefore, building a mosque was not difficult, especially after receiving divine direction regarding it.

“My decision to build a mosque is not because I want to become a Muslim, but a direct representation of what God told me to do. I have Muslims attending my church, I attend Muslim programmes to preach when I am called upon, and I have several Muslim friends, so following the God-given instruction was not too hard for me.”

Primate Ayodele also noted that building a mosque as a Christian cleric sends a message of religious tolerance across the globe and further showcases his love for humanity, regardless of differences.

“Beyond being a divine instruction, this is a message of religious tolerance across the globe. If we can resolve the issue of religion in the world, it would definitely be a better place for all of us. I love everyone, regardless of their religion or tribe, and building a mosque further showcases that. God created everyone equally; we should not celebrate things that further divide us.”

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Speaking on the operations of the mosque, Primate Ayodele explained that he would be handing it over to the Islamic community without any form of interference in its administration.

“By God’s grace, the mosque will be named after the late mother of President Tinubu, and we will be handing over its operations to the Islamic community without any interference.”

It is worth noting that Primate Ayodele has both privately and publicly supported other churches, especially financially. He has donated funds for church buildings, empowered individuals who are not members of his church, and raised funds for churches other than his own.

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Scary: CRS records 1,459 cases in five years

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Cross River State recorded 1,459 cancer cases between 2018 and 2022, with women accounting for over two-thirds of the total, data from the Calabar Cancer Registry have shown.

Director of the Registry, Prof. Ima-Obong Ekanem, disclosed this at a two-day capacity workshop for Cancer Registrars held at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH.

The training was organised by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, NICRAT, in collaboration with Linkwell Dynamic Concept.

Of the total cases, 984 (67.4 per cent) were females and 475 (32.6 per cent) males, giving a male-to-female ratio of 1:2. An average of 292 cases was recorded annually — a 51 per cent rise compared to 2009–2013.

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Ekanem, also Chief Consultant Pathologist at UCTH, said the report covered only three of the state’s 18 local government areas and excluded benign tumours, in line with global standards.

Among men, prostate cancer led with 149 cases (33.4 per cent), followed by lymphoma, colorectal, breast, mouth and pharynx, larynx, lung, bladder, leukaemia and thyroid cancers.

For women, breast cancer topped the chart with 397 cases (40.3 per cent), followed by cervical cancer with 170 (17.3 per cent). Ovarian, uterine, colorectal and lymphoma cases were also recorded.

In children, 90 cases were documented, with retinoblastoma and lymphoma the most frequent.

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Ekanem said over one-third of cancers are preventable through reduced exposure to risk factors and vaccination against Hepatitis B and Human Papilloma Virus, which are linked to liver and cervical cancers.

She urged healthy diets, regular exercise, avoidance of tobacco and excessive alcohol, and reduced sugar and salt intake. She also cautioned against harmful practices such as skin bleaching.

Men above 40, she advised, should undergo annual prostate checks, while women should carry out monthly breast self-examinations and periodic Pap smear and HPV DNA tests.

She noted that screening services remain unaffordable for many, stressing the need for a stronger health system to guarantee access to diagnosis and treatment.

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Ekanem cited funding and logistics gaps as major challenges facing the registry and called for support.

NICRAT Director-General, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, represented by Bashir Mustapha, said accurate cancer data are vital for planning, budgeting and effective control programmes nationwide.

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