A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, was shot dead by gunmen in the Eha-Ndiagu community of Eha-Alumonah, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Friday evening. Fr. Eya, the parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, was returning from Enugu when the incident occurred near an ongoing Type C hospital project.

Details of the Attack

According to eyewitnesses, the assailants, who were riding a motorcycle, intercepted Fr. Eya’s vehicle, shot at the tires, and forced it to stop. They then approached him and fired multiple shots at close range. Given that Fr. Eya was alone in the vehicle and no abduction took place, some accounts suggest the attack was more like an assassination than a kidnapping attempt.

Community in Mourning

The late cleric, a native of Ugbaike in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, has left the Nsukka Catholic community in mourning. As of press time, neither the police nor the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has issued an official statement on the killing.

Investigation and Reaction

The Enugu State Police Command is expected to begin investigations into the incident. The Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Rev. Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, expressed deep sorrow over Fr. Eya’s death, urging the faithful to remain steadfast in prayer during this period of “devastating anguish”. The killing has sparked tension in the region, with many calling on authorities to prioritize the safety of clergy and residents amid rising insecurity.³