Forty-five years after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war ended, pandemonium erupted yesterday at Idemili North Council Headquarters, Ogidi, Anambra State, as experts excavated an undetonated Russian made object suspected to be bomb, apparently dropped during the war.
Sunday Sun reporter, who visited Ogidi, headquarters of Idemili North Council, saw the level of uneasy calm as experts worked carefully to excavate the bomb so as not to detonate it, while security agents cordoned off the major road leading to the area, which many believed was a major war-front during the Nigeria/Biafra war.
The bomb, which looked like an oblong sharp metal object, was discovered a week ago by a security official attached to the council secretariat. It was lying about two inches on the earth’s surface at the new council secretariat still under construction, which led to invitation of experts from the Nigerian Mine Action Centre (NMAC), Enugu.
According to the security man that discovered the bomb, who pleaded anonymity, the discovery prompted the council officials to invite the NMAC for its excavation and possible detonation, adding that the scene had been cordoned off to avoid any ugly incident.
During the excavation exercise yesterday, which was supervised by leader of the NMAC, Dr. Emeka Uhiegbu, residents trooped to the council secretariat to watch the exercise.
Speaking with Chairman of Idemili North Council, Chief Ralph Nnabuife, whose office was near to where the object was discovered, shortly after the excavation exercise, Dr. Uhiegbu said the NMAC acted on the United Nations (UN) resolution that all countries that fought wars should de-mine all landmines buried or abandoned in the cause of war.
Dr. Uhiegbu added that his team was working in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence in de-mining the entire South-East and South-South states, where about 50,000 landmines were suspected to have been laid during the 30-month-old war.
He therefore, advised people to always report to security agencies any suspicious metal found in their areas of habitation so as to avoid explosion that could lead to casualties, adding that undetonated bombs were scattered in several locations in the South-East and South-South zones where soldiers used as camps during the civil war.
He also advised those erecting new buildings to be meticulous about the possible existence of explosives lying below the earth.
Responding, Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili North Council, Mr. Ralph Nnabuife, expressed shock at the discovery of the bomb, adding that such weapon in the area was a testimony that serious battle was really fought between the Nigerian and defunct Biafran troops at Nkpor and Abagana sectors.
