The European Union on Monday expressed “strong condemnation” of the killing of prominent Cameroonian journalist Martínez Zogo, who was kidnapped last week and whose body was discovered on Sunday.
“It is imperative that the exhaustive investigation already announced by the authorities clarify all the circumstances of this murder and bring those responsible to justice,” European diplomacy said in a statement quoted by Europa Press.
The department, headed by Josep Borrell, insisted on the “critical role” that free and independent media play in Cameroon and the rest of the world in ensuring “democratic and free” societies.
Cameroonian journalist Martínez Zogo, who worked at a radio station in Yaoundé and went missing for several days, was found dead on Sunday, a police source on condition of anonymity confirmed to AFP.
“This morning I went to Ebogo (15 km north of Yaoundé) where I saw and identified the body of Martínez Zogo. The deputy prosecutor and his wife were present to identify him,” he told the French news agency. (AFP) Charlie Chuemu, editor-in-chief of Amplitude FM radio, where the journalist worked.
Martínez Zogo, 51, was the managing director of Amplitude FM, a private radio station based in Yaoundé, and hosted the daily program “Embouteillage” (in Portuguese “Entrafamento”), which aired from Monday to Friday and was very popular in the capital. Cameroon is a country in western Central Africa.
The journalist was declared missing on Tuesday, and the circumstances of this situation remain unclear, the investigation was launched on the same day, a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
A press release from the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) states that Martínez Zogo was “abducted” on Tuesday, January 17 at around 20:00 in front of a police station on the outskirts of Yaoundé.
A police source confirmed that the journalist was last seen in front of the police station, adding that “he has no reason to claim that it was a kidnapping.”
According to Europa Press, Zogo recently reported on the alleged misappropriation of public funds by a well-known private entrepreneur.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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