A family in Umuoma Autonomous Community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, was shocked at the weekend to discover undetonated dynamite buried in its compound.
The bomb, suspected to have been laid during the civil war, was buried in Igbokwe’s compound at Ukwo-Umuoma.
A police source said the bomb was discovered after several rains that washed away the soil, thereby exposing the edge of the item suspected to have been buried in the compound during the civil war.
It was not clear whether the bomb was planted by Nigerian troops or Biafran soldiers.
But a source said the area was the base of Biafran troops, when Owerri sector fell to Federal troops.
A villager, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Some children were playing in the compound after the rain, when one of them observed a strange object buried in the ground with some parts exposed.
“The people in the compound did not know that they have been living with a destructive weapon for over 40 years.”
It was learnt that on discovery, the police were invited. The Police Anti-Bomb Squad detonated the bomb.
The source said the bomb experts detonated the bomb in a nearby bush.
Police spokesman Joy Elemoko confirmed the incident.