Cameroon: the government reacts to the disappearance of journalist Martinez Zogo

View of Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon.

(Illustrative photo) Tim E. White/Getty Images

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The director of Amplitude FM radio in Yaoundé and host of the program "Embouteillage" was kidnapped on Tuesday evening January 17 in the capital " 

by hooded men 

", the Syndicate of Independent Journalists of Cameroon (SYNAJIC) said the next day.

The circumstances of his disappearance are still unclear. 

Advertising

Read more

With our correspondent in Yaoundé

,

Sidy Yansané

According to Reporters Without Borders, the kidnapping took place on Tuesday evening, January 17, in front of the Nkol-Nkondi gendarmerie, in the suburbs of Yaoundé.

Around 8 p.m., a noise at the entrance to the station drew the attention of the police.

The gendarmes discover the car of journalist Martinez Zogo, the damaged bodywork as if the driver had tried to push the gate.

At the same time, they see a black vehicle moving away.

Since then, "

 the journalist's two telephones have been cut off

 ", specifies the Network of Press Owners of Cameroon.

A series of events that suggest a kidnapping.

In its press release, RSF condemns a “ 

brutal kidnapping

 ”.

⚡️ #Cameroon 🇨🇲: RSF strongly condemns the kidnapping of the director general of Amplitude FM radio, Martinez Zogo, on the evening of January 17, and calls on the authorities to do everything possible to find him and bring those responsible to justice.

👇https://t.co/khI1lmzwyk pic.twitter.com/FauMjjUa8d

— RSF (@RSF_inter) January 20, 2023

For its part, the government indicated that it was " 

following the situation with all the interest it deserves 

" and that " 

instructions have been given so that all light is shed 

" on this affair.

Government statement on the disappearance of the chain manager of the urban radio “Amplitude FM”.

#Cameroon #TT237 pic.twitter.com/ProOYZCplp

— MINCOM Cameroon (@MincomCameroon) January 21, 2023

In recent weeks, on his show, Martinez Zogo, known for his "satirical tone" and his investigations, had accused high-ranking figures of embezzlement of public funds.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

  • Cameroon

  • Media