By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
The Enugu State Government has placed a Ten Million Naira (#10,000,000) bounty on the killers of a Catholic priest Reverend Father Matthew Eya, of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka.
Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, was brutally murdered by unknown gunmen along the Alumona–Eha Ndiagu road in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria on Friday, September 19, 2025.
The gruesome killing of the priest has sent shockwaves among residents and Catholics in Nigeria as it reopened deep wounds of insecurity, killing and violent attack on Catholic priests across Nigeria.
The Enugu State Government in a statement by Dr. Malachy Agbo, Commissioner for Information and Communication, condemned the murder of the priest, describing it as “cowardly and cold-blooded.”
The statement also commiserated with the family of the slain priest, the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, and Catholic faithful across Nigeria and urged anyone with useful information that could lead to the arrests of his killers to contact 07077451426.
The government has also vowed to deploy every resources at its disposal including technology, intelligence, and security collaboration to track down those behind the heinous act.
The killing of the Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, has been described as silencing a voice dedicated to peace, prayer, and service by those who knew him.
According to residents, this tragedy is yet another reminder that no one is safe in Nigeria. They are appealing to relevant authorities not to allow the killing of Rev. Fr. Matthew to be a forgotten headline, but a death that must be avenged by bringing his killers to justice.