Unidentified gunmen have brutally assassinated Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, Nsukka LGA, Enugu State.
The attack occurred late Friday night along the Eha-Ndiagu Road, where eyewitnesses say armed men on a motorcycle intercepted the priest’s vehicle and sprayed it with bullets, killing him instantly.
In a statement released Saturday, the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka expressed deep grief over the killing. Signed by Chancellor Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, the message described the tragedy as “crushing pain and sorrow, yet a total submission to the will of Almighty God and a firm hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
Fr. Iyidobi urged Catholics to remain steadfast in prayer, asking God to comfort the Church through this “period of devastating anguish.”
As of press time, the Enugu State Police Command has not issued an official response or update on investigations into the murder.
This killing adds to a growing wave of attacks on Catholic priests across Nigeria, particularly in the South East, where separatist violence and criminal gangs have fueled a surge of kidnappings and executions.
Just last month, two priests were abducted in Anambra State—one later found dead. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, more than a dozen clergy have been killed or abducted since 2023.
The mounting bloodshed has left communities shaken and heightened fears that priests are increasingly being targeted, with urgent calls for federal authorities to bolster security and protect faith leaders in volatile regions.
Enugu Govt Places ₦10m Bounty on Killers of Catholic Priest
The Enugu State Government has announced a ₦10 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of those behind the brutal killing of Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, the parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, Nsukka LGA.
Fr. Eya was ambushed and shot dead on Friday night by gunmen who trailed him along the Eha-Ndiagu Road, sparking outrage and grief across the state.
In a swift reaction, the state government vowed not to let the killers escape justice, urging residents to provide credible information to security agencies.
The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, in a statement, described the murder as “crushing pain and sorrow” while calling on the faithful to remain steadfast in prayer.
This killing adds to the surge of attacks on Catholic priests in the South East, where kidnappings and executions by armed groups have become disturbingly frequent. Just last month, two priests were abducted in Anambra, with one later found dead.
The bounty announcement underscores growing pressure on authorities to act decisively as faith leaders continue to be targeted in Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
