Online petition launched to seek justice for Martinez Zogo

An online petition has been initiated by goodwill Cameroonians, to rally people to press for justice for murdered journalist, Martinez Zogo.

The petition launched by Noah Bakary on the website change.org had reached 84 signatories by Thursday morning, four days after the mutilated body of Martinez Zogo was found on the outskirts of Yaounde.

“We will not remain spectators of this infamous crime nor complicit in such a violation of freedom of expression. We demand immediate action and justice for Martinez Zogo,” Bakary, the petition’s initiator said on the website.

He added that the petition aims to “call on the international community to exert pressure on the government of Cameroon to take immediate action to elucidate the truth about the murder of Martinez Zogo, and to protect all journalists and media workers who are victims of violence, intimidation and repression in Cameroon.”

National and international stakeholders have been mounting pressure in the Cameroon government to investigate and punish killers of the former managing director of Amplitude FM, a Yaounde-based radio station.

His mutilated body was discovered at Soa on the outskirts of Yaounde in the morning of Sunday, January 22, five days after he had been abducted.

Government spokesman, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, said investigations have been opened on the issue, although many still doubt government’s commitment.

Martinez Zogo’s murder brought back memories of Samuel Wazizi, another Cameroonian journalist who died in a military detention facility after arrest.

His body was never found and government’s promise investigations have never been communicated.

Cameroonian journalists and other stakeholders fear the government might also let the Martinez Zogo case to die down in the same way.

You can sign the petition here

By Tata Mbunwe