Human Rights Watch says killers of Martinez Zogo should face justice

By Nukapuh .P

Human Rights Watch has called on the government of Cameroon to do transparent investigations and bring those who killed prominent investigative journalist, Martinez Zogo to justice.

“Effective, transparent investigation needed; Bring Killers to Justice”

“Cameroonian authorities should conduct an effective and transparent investigation into the killing of Martinez Zogo, a leading investigative journalist, Human Rights Watch said today”

In the statement issued on January 27, 2023, the organization says Martinez was killed for simply telling the truth.

“Zogo was the host of a popular daily radio program, Embouteillage (traffic jam). During his show, he regularly discussed corruption cases, at times accusing well-known people by name. In the weeks before he was killed, Zogo spoke on the radio about his work investigating embezzlement in public institutions and said he would name people involved. Human Rights Watch has seen a copy of a report Zogo allegedly submitted to judicial authorities before his death, in which he calls for an investigation into corruption by a high-profile person”

Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch, added, “His heinous killing sends a chilling message to all other journalists in Cameroon. Cameroonian authorities should conduct a prompt and impartial investigation to bring Zogo’s killers to justice.”

This comes after several other organizations and personalities have condemned the killing of Zogo and called on the government of Cameroon to investigate and let justice be done

Martinez Zogo went missing on January 17, 2023, and his body was discovered on January 22 in Soa, a suburb of the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé. Media accounts said Zogo’s body showed signs consistent with severe torture.

Since then, Zogo’s colleagues in Cameroon have also been demanding the government to do something, as Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Communication minister promised that investigations will be carried out to find out the truth behind his death.