Bishops insist Government must punish Martinez Zogo’s killers

Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon have described as unacceptable, the gruesome murder of journalist Martinez Zogo, and have urged the government to ensure the culprits are punished.

In a statement signed by Mgr Andrew Nkea, Archbishop of Bamenda, on January 28, the prelates “strongly condemn this inhuman and unacceptable act, which comes once again to describe the poisonous climate of insecurity and violence which reigns in our country.”

The Bishops’ release came one week after the mutilated body of Martinez Zogo, former managing director of Amplitude FM in Yaounde, was discovered on the outskirts of Yaounde on January 22.

He had been abducted five days earlier on his way from work, as he tried to seek refuge from his attackers at a nearby police station.

His abduction and brutal killing, the Bishops said, “marks a regrettable turning point in the history of our country which, unfortunately, has been bathed in the grip of violence for some time, despite the ardent desire of the people to live in peace and unity.”

They noted that “violence has never built anything. It can only sow the seeds of violence and hatred,” adding that authorities must do everything to bring the culprits to justice.

The call is among many others that have been made recently calling for accountability on Martinez Zogo’s murder.

The government, on January 23, announced that investigations were ongoing to track down killers of the journalist.

However, journalists in Cameroon have been worried about the government’s silence on these investigations over one week after the journalist’s body was found.

By Amina Hilda