Gunmen have reportedly assassinated Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, the parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, in the Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The tragic incident occurred on the evening of Friday, September 19, 2025, as the priest was returning to his parish via the Eha-Alumona – Eha-Ndiagu Road. According to eyewitnesses, the assailants believed to have been riding a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle and opened fire, killing him instantly.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka confirmed the killing and expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“It is with crushing pain and sorrow, yet with 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,” the statement read.
Signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, the message called for prayers during what it described as a period of “devastating anguish.”
“Let us remain ardent in prayer that God sees us through this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace. Amen,” it concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command had not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. Further details are expected as investigations continue.
