Nsukka: A Catholic priest in the Diocese of Nsukka, Enugu State, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while returning from a pastoral assignment on Friday evening, September 19. The victim, Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, Parish Priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, was attacked on the Eha-Alumona–Eha-Ndiagu road in Nsukka Local Government Area.

Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants, who were riding a motorcycle, intercepted the priest’s vehicle near the site of a Type C hospital project. They allegedly shot at the tyres, forcing the car to stop, before firing multiple rounds at the priest at close range. Another occupant of the vehicle was left unharmed.

The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has confirmed the killing. Fr. Cajetan Iyidobi, Chancellor of the Diocese, described the event as devastating and called on the faithful to pray for the soul of the deceased while urging calm in the community. Officials from the Nigerian Catholic Church condemned the killing as a “senseless act of violence” and a “heinous crime.”

The Enugu State Government has also reacted strongly. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo, condemned the murder as cowardly and cold-blooded, announcing a ₦10 million reward for credible information leading to the arrest of the killers.

Scenes of grief were reported across the parish, with parishioners gathering at the site where the blood-stained vehicle was discovered riddled with bullets. The Diocese has appealed to Christians to remain vigilant and to channel their sorrow into prayer, emphasizing the importance of peace and justice in the region.

Security agencies have yet to release further details about the investigation, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The motive behind the killing remains unclear, though the precision of the attack suggests it was a targeted assassination.

The murder of Rev. Fr. Eya adds to rising concerns about insecurity in Enugu State and Nigeria’s southeast, where religious leaders, travelers, and civilians have increasingly been targeted by violent attacks. Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and the state government has assured that justice will be pursued swiftly.