Late Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya. Facebook/Catholic Diocese of Nsukka
In a brazen act of violence, unidentified gunmen ambushed and fatally shot Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, the dedicated parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church in Eha-Ndiagu, Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State.
The attack unfolded late Friday evening as Fr. Eya made his way back to the parish along the Eha-Ndiagu Road. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants, riding a motorcycle, pulled up alongside his vehicle before unleashing a hail of bullets that left him dead at the scene.
The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka conveyed its profound grief in a statement released Saturday, underscoring the diocese’s deep dismay at the loss.
Signed by Chancellor Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, the message invoked prayers for the priest’s eternal rest.
The statement read, “Shocked to the marrow, it is with crushing pain and sorrow, yet a total submission to the will of the Almighty God and a firm hope in the resurrection of the dead, that I inform you of the tragic death of yet another brother of ours, Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya.
“He was shot dead yesterday, 19 September 2025 along Eha-Alumona – Eha-Ndiagu road.
“Let us remain ardent in prayer that God sees us through this period of devastating anguish. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.”
At the time of this report, the Enugu State Police Command has not issued any official comment regarding the incident or the ongoing investigation.
This heartbreaking killing comes amid a chilling surge in targeted assaults on Catholic priests across Nigeria, especially in the volatile South East region.
In recent years, the area has become a hotspot for insecurity, with armed groups—often linked to separatist agitation and criminal networks—escalating kidnappings and executions of clergy as a means of intimidation and extortion.
Just last month, two priests were abducted in Anambra State, one later found murdered, while similar fates have befallen at least a dozen others since 2023, according to reports from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
These relentless attacks not only shatter communities but also heighten fears that faith leaders are increasingly in the crosshairs of a deepening crisis, prompting urgent calls for enhanced security and federal intervention to stem the bloodshed.
