Tension hangs thick in the air of Enugu State following the shocking and brutal murder of a beloved Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya.
The tragic incident unfolded on Friday evening along the dimly lit Eha-Alumona–Eha-Ndiagu Road, nestled in the Nsukka Local Government Area.
Fr. Eya, who served as the parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church in Eha-Ndiagu, was known for his dedicated service to the community and was held in high regard by his congregation.
Eyewitness accounts and initial reports painted a grim picture, suggesting that armed kidnappers were responsible for the attack, targeting the cleric during his journey home.
Social media quickly buzzed with alarming posts, claiming that gunmen had opened fire on Fr. Eya’s vehicle, resulting in his instant death while some passengers traveling with him were abducted. However, as the story evolved, local sources revealed a more unsettling narrative—one that hints at premeditated murder rather than an opportunistic kidnapping.
According to insiders from the community who spoke to journalists on Saturday morning, it appears that the priest was deliberately targeted. He was reportedly driving alone when the assailants, who were observed riding motorbikes, ambushed him near the ongoing construction site of a Type C hospital, a location that has now become a chilling backdrop to this somber event.
“They shot and deflated his tyres, forcing the vehicle to stop. They then approached and shot him multiple times at close range. This does not look like a kidnapping situation,” the source stated.
The late priest hailed from Ugbaike, in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the tragic development, the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss.
“Shocked to the marrow, it is with crushing pain and sorrow, yet with total submission to the will of the Almighty God and 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 the 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,” the statement reads.
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