Xavier Messé had been aware of the assassination of Martinez Zogo since January 18.

Xavier Messé had been aware of the assassination of Martinez Zogo since January 18.

 

Xavier Messé, journalist and teacher in Cameroon, revealed that he had been informed of the assassination of Martinez Zogo as early as Wednesday, January 18.

Informed of the tragedy Xavier Messé declared that he had been among the first people to be informed of the assassination of Martinez Zogo, but that he did not have the power or the right to announce it to the personalities. He was made aware of this tragedy by a telephone call very early on Wednesday, January 18, when Martinez Zogo had been kidnapped and killed the previous night.

Xavier Messé était au courant de l’assassinat de Martinez Zogo depuis le 18 janvier. TELES RELAY
Xavier Messé had been aware of the assassination of Martinez Zogo since January 18. TELES RELAY

Deadline for announcing the death

Even if Xavier Messé was informed of this tragedy, the announcement of the death of Martinez Zogo was not made public until January 22. Xavier Messé explained that he had wanted to let the authorities and the relatives of the deceased announce this terrible news themselves, and that it was necessary to leave this work to the people indicated, that is to say those responsible for security and of Justice. He also suggested that the authorities were aware of the assassination, but were looking for a formula to announce the sad news.

Violence against media men

Between 2019 and 2022, 34 cases of violence against media men were recorded in Cameroon, a record in Africa according to Xavier Messé. Unfortunately, the sponsors of these acts have never been worried, because they benefit from the protection of the machine of the State, according to the professor of journalism.

Xavier Messé était au courant de l’assassinat de Martinez Zogo depuis le 18 janvier. TELES RELAY
Xavier Messé had been aware of the assassination of Martinez Zogo since January 18. TELES RELAY

Disappearance and discovery of the body

He had been missing since January 17. The lifeless body of Martinez Zogo, 51, general manager of the private radio station Amplitude FM, was discovered on the morning of January 22, near the locality of Soa, on the northern outskirts of Yaoundé. The information was confirmed by government spokesman René-Emmanuel Sadi, who indicated in a press release dated the same day that the body was found in an "advanced state of decomposition".

Physical abuse

Charly Tchouemou, editor-in-chief of Amplitude FM, said he recognized the victim. The authorities specify that Martinez Zogo's wife has formally recognized his personal belongings and that the journalist "suffered serious bodily harm". His body was transported during the day to the Yaoundé central hospital for an autopsy and, this Sunday, a large crowd had gathered in front of the establishment, as well as many elements of the police. The government announced that an investigation had been opened to find "the perpetrators of this heinous, unspeakable and unacceptable ».

Conviction and investigation

The opposition and organizations defending the press denounce an "assassination". Disappeared in troubled circumstances, Zogo was the star host of a daily program, Embouteillage, broadcast from Monday to Friday and very popular in the Cameroonian capital. An investigation had been opened to shed light on the circumstances of his disappearance, according to a police source.

On the air, this committed journalist regularly tackled corruption cases, not hesitating to implicate important personalities by name. He had notably been detained preventively for two months in 2020 in a case where he was accused of defamation. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for his release and urged the government to decriminalize the offence.

Xavier Messé était au courant de l’assassinat de Martinez Zogo depuis le 18 janvier. TELES RELAY
Xavier Messé had been aware of the assassination of Martinez Zogo since January 18. TELES RELAY

The National Union of Journalists of Cameroon expressed in a statement its "dismay", denouncing a "heinous assassination" and calling on media workers to dress in black on 25

January to mark their mourning. The International Press Institute, a Vienna-based press freedom organization, has urged Cameroonian authorities to “promptly investigate the horrific murder of journalist Martinez Zogo and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice”.

The political opposition was also indignant, like the opposition deputy of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Jean-Michel Nintcheu, who denounced in a press release a "crime" which "cannot go unpunished". .

The NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Friday that Zogo had been “kidnapped” on January 17 and that witnesses had seen people force him into a car.

In summary, journalist Martinez Zogo has been found dead after being missing since January 17. Authorities say he suffered physical abuse. The government has opened an investigation to find the perpetrators of this crime. The opposition and organizations defending the press denounce an assassination. Zogo was known for his commitment to and investigation of corruption cases, and was detained on remand in 2020 for defamation. Press organizations and the political opposition are calling for a swift investigation and justice for the culprits.

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