The Enugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the gunmen who murdered Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, a Catholic priest, in Nsukka on Friday. Eya, who was the priest in charge of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, Nsukka Local Council, was shot dead by unidentified assailants while driving along the Eha-Ndiagu road in his ash-coloured Toyota Camry.
His vehicle was riddled with bullets, and he was killed instantly before the attackers fled the scene.
State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, immediately ordered intensified operations to track down the killers. Police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said that the Udenu Area Commander, alongside tactical and operational squads, was deployed shortly after the incident. “Consequently, police operatives under the Udenu Area Command’s coverage have arrested 38 suspects following bush combing and raids of different black spots in the area. Incriminating exhibits were recovered, while the suspects are currently undergoing screening,” he stated.
Giwa commiserated with the priest’s family, the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, and the wider Catholic community, assuring that the Command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has expressed deep sadness over the killing and announced a N10 million reward for credible information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo, described the attack as “cowardly and cold-blooded,” and extended the condolences of the government to the bereaved family and Catholic faithful.
Agbo reaffirmed that the security of lives and property remains a top priority for the state government, stressing that all available resources, including technology and intelligence, would be deployed to track down the criminals. He urged anyone with credible information to contact 07077451426.
