The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 38 people in connection with the killing of Rev. Fr. Mathew Eya, a Catholic priest of the Nsukka Diocese.
Eya, parish priest of St. Charles Catholic Church, Eha-Ndiagu, was shot dead on September 19 along the Eha-Ndiagu–Eha-Etiti Road in Nsukka Local Government Area. He was returning from Enugu when gunmen suspected to be herders attacked him.
The Commissioner of Police, Bitrus Giwa, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Sunday through the command’s spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe. He said the police would ensure that those responsible face justice. “We suspect that the assailants are still in the area, and we are determined to fish them out,” he stated.
The police said raids on criminal hideouts and bush combing operations in the area led to the arrests and recovery of incriminating items. The 38 suspects are currently being screened to identify the killers.
Giwa expressed condolences to the Catholic Church and the priest’s family, assuring that no effort would be spared in tracking down the perpetrators.
The killing of Fr. Eya has drawn widespread concern, with residents pointing to repeated attacks in Nsukka communities by suspected armed herders.
