By Our Correspondent
Tension has gripped Enugu State as the Police Command intensifies its crackdown on the killers of Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, a Catholic priest gunned down in cold blood on Friday night, September 19, 2025, along the Eha-Ndiagu–Eha-Etiti Road in Eha-Alumona, Nsukka Local Government Area.
In a swift response to the shocking murder that has thrown the Nsukka Catholic community into mourning, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, ordered a full-scale manhunt for the fleeing gunmen. The directive, carried out by the Udenu Area Commander and tactical squads, has already led to the arrest of 38 suspects in coordinated raids across black spots and suspected hideouts.
Police spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the development in a statement released Sunday. He revealed that during the operation, several incriminating items were recovered, while the arrested suspects are currently being screened to fish out those directly linked to the gruesome crime.
> “The Commissioner of Police has ordered the intensification of the ongoing manhunt for the armed men who murdered Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya. Police operatives have arrested thirty-eight suspects following bush combing and raids of black spots in the area. Incriminating exhibits were recovered, and the suspects are undergoing screening,” the statement read.
The killing of Rev. Fr. Eya, a respected priest described by parishioners as “a shepherd with a heart of gold”, has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for justice echoing across Enugu and beyond. Residents say the attack has further heightened fears of insecurity along rural roads in the region.
While commiserating with the bereaved family and the Catholic Church, CP Giwa vowed that the command will leave no stone unturned in unmasking the killers.
> “The Police will not rest until the perpetrators of this heinous act are arrested and brought to justice,” Giwa assured.
The tragic murder of Rev. Fr. Eya has once again placed the spotlight on rising attacks in Enugu’s rural communities, fueling urgent demands for improved security and proactive intelligence to protect both clerics and ordinary citizens.
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