Gunmen Assassinate Catholic Priest in Enugu
Gunmen Assassinate Catholic Priest in Enugu
Gunmen have shot and killed a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, in Enugu State, throwing the community into mourning.
Fr. Eya, who served as the parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, in Nsukka Local Government Area, was attacked on Friday evening while returning to his parish.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, suspected to be armed men riding on a motorcycle, ambushed his vehicle along the Eha-Ndiagu Road and opened fire, killing him instantly.
The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, describing the priest’s killing as a devastating blow to the church and the community.
The diocese expressed deep shock over the assassination and called for prayers for the repose of his soul.
“We are deeply saddened by the untimely and violent death of Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya. His service to God and humanity was cut short in a most tragic manner. We pray for the strength to bear this great loss,” the statement partly read.
Residents of Eha-Ndiagu and parishioners have been thrown into grief, with many calling on security agencies to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Enugu State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the killing, but security operatives are reportedly intensifying efforts to track down the assailants.
The murder of Fr. Eya adds to the rising concerns over insecurity in parts of Enugu and across the South-East, where incidents of gun violence, kidnappings, and attacks have become recurrent.
