How Enugu Catholic Priest Was Assassinated: Eyewitness

• An Enugu Catholic bishop, Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya of St. Charles Catholic Church in Eha-Ndiagu, in Nsukka, has been killed
• The Enugu cleric was gunned down by some armed men, suspected to be kidnappers, as they abducted other people in the vehicle
• However, an eyewitness explained that the situation is different from kidnapping for ransom, as he disclosed how the priest was killed by the assailants

There was tragedy in Enugu during the weekend after some gunmen shot and killed St. Charles Catholic Church's priest, Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, in Eha-Ndiagu, in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state

It was reported that armed men suspected to be kidnappers attacked the cleric along the Eha-Ndiagu road. The Catholic bishop died immediately, while other people in the vehicle were allegedly abducted.

The Guardian reported that the killing has been confirmed in a statement, and the Nsukka Catholic Diocese mourned the loss of the religious leader.

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Eyewitness speaks on Enugu bishop's death

However, eyewitnesses suggested that the attack could be a targeted assassination rather than a kidnapping that was reported. An eyewitness disclosed that the priest was driving alone when he was ambushed around the Type C hospital project site.

The source explained that the attack was not about demands for ransom, adding that “They demobilised the tyres, forced the vehicle to stop, and shot him multiple times at close range."

The deceased was from Ugbaike in Enugu Ezike in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

The police and the Catholic Diocese were yet to make an official comment about the assassination. The priest's death has led to fear and outrage among the people, and many are calling for urgent action to stop the growing violence in the state.

Reaction to the Enugu bishop's death

Reacting to the killing of the priest, a public commentator who is familiar with the cleric, Oga Bahaushe, mourned the Catholic leader. He wrote:

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"A priest has been murdered in cold blood. Not a politician, not a criminal, a servant of God. Nigeria is bleeding, and those in power stay silent. How many more lives before something changes?

"Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya served God and his people; now he’s gone, taken by violence that has become normal in this country. May his soul rest in peace. And may justice not be buried with him.

"If a man of God is not safe in his own parish, then who is safe in Nigeria? Enugu, the Southeast, and the whole nation are nowhere spared. Rest in peace, Father Eya. Your blood cries for justice.

"They kill priests, they kidnap students, they burn villages, and the government calls it ‘isolated incidents.’ Isolated where? The whole country is a crime scene."

See his reaction here:

Imo speaks on abduction of former lawmaker

Legit.ng earlier reported that Imo state government has said that it was committed to the safe return of Ngozi Ogbu, a former lawmaker in the state House of Assembly, who was recently kidnapped.

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Declan Emelumba, the Imo state commissioner for Information, explained that the government is doing everything in the state to secure the former lawmaker's release.

It was earlier reported that some gunmen, who claimed to be members of the Biafra agitators, abducted Ogbu at the Onuimo LGA of the state on Sunday.

Source: Legit.ng