Tragedy struck in Enugu State on Friday evening as Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Eha-Ndiagu community, Nsukka Local Government Area.

According to eyewitnesses, the priest was returning from Enugu when his vehicle was intercepted by armed men on a motorcycle near the site of an ongoing Type C hospital project. The assailants reportedly shot at his tyres, forcing the vehicle to stop, before firing multiple shots at him at close range.

While some accounts suggested the incident could be linked to kidnapping, sources believe it appeared more like an assassination, as Fr. Eya was alone in the car and no attempt was made to abduct him.

The late cleric hailed from Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Enugu State Police Command nor the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has issued an official statement on the killing.