A Cameroonian journalist, Martinez Zogo was found murdered a few days after he was declared missing.
Zogo who is also a director of Radio Amplitude was declared missing on January 17 and his body was found five days after.
Paul Chouta, a journalist with an online newspaper TGV de l’Info told the International Press Institute (IPI) that the journalist’s body “was found in (a state of) advanced decomposition and visibly tortured” in an area called Ebogo 3, in central Cameroon.
Radio Amplitude is a privately owned media house based in Yaounde, the capital city of Cameroon where Zogo hosted a critical program called ‘Ambouteillage.’
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Cameroonian authorities were said to have published a statement saying it had given instructions to investigate the kidnapping, only for Zogo’s body to be found a few days later with signs of torture.
Several unions of journalists have called for an investigation into his death.
In a Twitter post, IPI, a global network of editors, journalists and media executives defending press freedom since 1950, called on authorities in Cameroon to swiftly investigate the horrific murder of Zogo and ensure the culprits are brought to justice.
“We are shocked and horrified by the kidnapping and brutal killing of journalist Martinez Zogo in Cameroon, ” IPI Director of Advocacy, Amy Brouillette said. “The Cameroonian authorities have an obligation to swiftly and thoroughly investigate this crime. Authorities must determine who was responsible, what their motive was, and bring them to justice.”
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“In addition to fully investigating Zogo’s murder and securing justice, the Cameroonian government must put all necessary measures in place to ensure that critical journalists are safe and protected and able to carry out their work,” she added.
Furthermore, SYNAJIC, a trade union of independent journalists of Cameroon who had previously condemned Zogo’s kidnapping, also demanded authorities to quickly investigate the incident and ensure his safety.
IPI reports that the reporter’s murder worsens the already disturbed press freedom situation in Cameroon, and threatens to instill fear and a culture of silence and self-censorship on critical issues of society and politics among media houses.
