.png)
A Nigerian Catholic priest, Fr Matthew Eya, was assassinated by unknown gunmen whilst returning to his parish on Friday evening.
Fr Eya, the parish priest of St Charles Catholic Church in the Diocese of Nsukka, Enugu State, was driving when the assailants, reportedly on a motorcycle, intercepted his vehicle and began shooting. He died at the scene.
In a statement posted on the Diocese of Nsukka’s Facebook page, Fr Cajetan Iyidobi, Chancellor of the diocese, wrote: “Shocked to the marrow, it is with crushing pain and sorrow, yet a total submission to the will of the Almighty God and a firm hope in the resurrection of the dead, that I inform you of the tragic death of yet another brother of ours, Rev Fr Matthew Eya. He was shot dead yesterday, 19 September 2025, along the Eha-Alumona–Eha-Ndiagu road. Let us remain ardent in prayer that God sees us through this period of devastating anguish. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.”
Since 2000, around 62,000 Christian civilians have been killed in Nigeria due to jihadist violence. According to Open Doors, Nigeria was the most dangerous country for Christians in 2024, with 3,100 killed and 2,830 kidnapped.
On 14 September, members of the Fulani — a nomadic, predominantly Muslim tribe — murdered six Christians in Plateau State. Fulani militias are responsible for much of the violence against Christians in the country.
A report by the Catholic criminologist Emeka Umeagbalasi, Director of the Catholic-inspired NGO International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), has alleged that the Fulani militias are backed by federal funds and suspected external jihadist financing.
The 2025 World Watch List, Open Doors’s annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution, lists Nigeria as number 7, ahead of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
The Enugu State government has offered a ₦10 million (around £5,000 or $6,700) reward for anyone with credible information that could lead to the arrest of those who murdered Fr Eya.
Photo credit: Catholic Diocese of Nsukka Facebook page
