Uncovering the Hidden Dangers: The Explosive Truth in Ochima, Enugu State

Nigeria is a land of untold beauty, strength, and diversity. Yet, within her borders, a growing number of citizens—particularly Christians and the people of the South-East—are finding themselves trapped in a cycle of fear, neglect, and silence.

This week, the peaceful farming community of Ochima, located in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, was rocked by a disturbing discovery: a live explosive buried in a local farmland. This shocking revelation has sparked peaceful protests and rekindled concerns about the safety of civilian lives in areas with historical military presence.

“We Found a Bomb in Our Backyard”

Farmers who had gone to till their soil were stunned when they unearthed a device they later suspected to be a military-grade bomb. Alarmed and confused, the residents quickly raised the alarm and staged a peaceful protest, demanding urgent investigation and protection from further threats.

“We cannot farm in fear. We cannot sleep at night not knowing what lies beneath our land,” one protester lamented.

Military Denial and Rising Distrust

In response, the Nigerian Army swiftly dismissed the protest as “misleading and unsubstantiated.” According to Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the 82 Division, preliminary investigations revealed no credible threat. But residents aren't convinced.

For many in the region, particularly the Igbo (Biafran) communities, this event feels like one more chapter in a long history of being unheard and unprotected. The discovery of an explosive in a farming village, whether by accident or legacy of past conflicts, cannot be brushed aside.

A Pattern of Silence

Ochima is not the first community to raise red flags. Across southeastern Nigeria, many feel they are being left to navigate dangers—both manmade and systemic—on their own. As one activist noted, “Nigeria is becoming a death trap for her own people, especially Christians and Igbos.”

Calling for Action, Not Denial

If Nigeria is truly one nation, then every citizen deserves to feel safe, heard, and protected. Denying the experiences of communities only widens the gap of trust between citizens and the government. Real peace cannot exist without truth and transparency.

We will continue to speak out. We will keep telling the world about situations in Nigeria—because silence is complicity. The lives of innocent people, like the farmers of Ochima, deserve more than statements. They deserve safety.