Panic rippled through Oromeruzimagu community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State when villagers discovered an unexploded bomb while digging a grave in a family compound.

The ordnance, believed to be a remnant of past military activity, was accidentally unearthed during preparations for a burial.

According to residents, the item was initially moved into an air-conditioned room to prevent detonation before the military was informed — a move that could have ended in tragedy.

Soldiers from the 6 Division, Nigerian Army were swiftly deployed to the scene and safely evacuated the device.

The incident has since drawn attention to the dangers of tampering with unidentified metallic objects, especially in regions with histories of armed conflict.

Army Warns Against Handling Explosives

In a statement released on Tuesday, spokesman of the division, Lt. Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, warned civilians against handling military-grade explosives.

“This act calls for caution, as handling such sensitive military-graded ordnance requires technical capability,” he said.

He urged the public to promptly report any strange or suspicious items to the nearest security agency. “Members of the public are enjoined to report such discoveries and avoid resorting to the dangerous practice of self-help,” Danjuma added.

The army cautioned that explosives of this kind could cause devastating destruction if mishandled, stressing the need for vigilance and public education in rural and urban communities alike.

GOC Commends Villagers’ Vigilance

Reacting to the incident, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, praised the community for alerting authorities instead of taking matters into their own hands.

He assured the people of the Niger Delta that the army has the necessary expertise and equipment to safely dispose of such dangerous materials.

“Adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the safe evacuation of such items by trained personnel,” Emekah said.

Security experts say unexploded ordnance remains a hidden danger in several parts of Nigeria, especially in areas that have witnessed past military operations.