Gunmen murder Catholic Priest in Enugu
A wave of shock and grief has swept through Enugu State following the brutal killing of Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, a Catholic priest, by unidentified gunmen in Nsukka Local Government Area.
The tragic incident occurred on the evening of Friday, 19 September 2025, along the Eha-Alumona–Eha-Ndiagu Road. Until his death, Fr. Eya served as the parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu.
While initial reports suggested a possible kidnapping attempt gone wrong, emerging details indicate that the attack may have been a targeted assassination. According to local sources, the assailants, who were on motorbikes, intercepted the priest’s vehicle near the site of an ongoing hospital construction project.
“They shot at his tyres to immobilise the car, then approached and shot him multiple times at close range. This was no kidnapping attempt—it looked like a deliberate hit,” a community source told journalists on Saturday morning.
Fr. Eya, originally from Ugbaike in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North LGA, was reportedly driving alone at the time of the attack. Social media posts claimed some passengers may have been abducted, but those reports remain unverified.
The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has confirmed the killing. In an emotional statement, the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“Shocked to the marrow, it is with crushing pain and sorrow—yet with total submission to the will of Almighty God and firm hope in the resurrection of the dead—that I inform you of the tragic death of our brother, Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya. He was shot dead yesterday along the Eha-Alumona–Eha-Ndiagu Road,” the statement read.
Fr. Iyidobi urged the faithful to remain steadfast in prayer during what he described as a period of “devastating anguish.”
The Enugu State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, but investigations are expected to begin immediately.
The killing has sparked tension in the region, with many calling on the authorities to prioritise the safety of clergy and residents amid rising insecurity.
