A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, was shot dead by gunmen on Friday evening in the Eha-Ndiagu community of Eha-Alumonah, Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State.
Fr. Eya, who served as the parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, was returning from Enugu when he was attacked near the site of an ongoing Type C hospital project.
How the Attack Happened
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, riding on a motorcycle, intercepted the priest’s vehicle by firing at its tires and forcing him to stop. They reportedly approached the car and shot him multiple times at close range.
Since Fr. Eya was alone and no abduction took place, locals believe the killing appeared more like a targeted assassination than a kidnapping attempt.
Community in Shock
The late priest, a native of Ugbaike in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, has left the Nsukka Catholic community in deep mourning.
As of press time, neither the Enugu State Police Command nor the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has released an official statement on the incident.
Calls for Justice
The Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, described the killing as devastating, urging the faithful to remain prayerful during what he called a period of “painful anguish.”
The tragedy has heightened tension in the area, with many residents demanding stronger security measures to protect clergy and communities in the face of rising insecurity.
