Kidnappers Kill Catholic Priest In Enugu

Unknown gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, have murdered a serving Catholic Priest in Eha-Ndiagu community, Eha-Alumonah, Nsukka local government area of Enugu State.

The Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has confirmed the brutal killing of the priest.

The Cleric, identified as Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, was the parish priest of the St. Charles Catholic Church in Eha-Ndiagu. He was killed by the gunmen on Friday.

A post being circulated on the incident read: “Nsukka Diocese Mourns. A Catholic priest of Nsukka Diocese was shot and killed by kidnappers in Saturday morning.

“He was driving yesterday evening along Ehandiagu road when the kidnappers shot at his car and killed him instantly and kidnapped others in the vehicle.”

Sources said the killing looked more like an assassination, adding that the priest, who was alone in a vehicle, was shot dead on the spot.

“He was coming back from Enugu. The gunmen on a motorbike closed in at him close to where Type C hospital project is ongoing.

“They demobilised the vehicle tyres and the vehicle was forced to a stop. They now got close and shot him severally at close range.

“So, it doesn’t look like kidnapping situation,” a source said.

The deceased hailed from Ugbaike in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North local government area of Enugu State.