Unanswered Questions:

Did Journalist Wazizi Die or Was He Murdered

-Family sources say military is hiding the truth

By Boris Esono in Buea

Until the conclusions of a commission of inquiry to be set-up by the head of state, Paul Biya, to

Samuel Ajieka Wazizi

ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death of Buea-based journalist, Samuel Ajieka Wazizi, are made known, a dark cloud continues to surround the tragic and vexing saga.

                French Ambassador to Yaounde, Christophe Guilhou, after an audience with the head of state at the Unity Palace, on Friday, told journalists that President Biya has promised to set-up a commission of inquiry to look deeper into the tragic death of the pidgin newscaster.

                The revelation by the French diplomat has rekindled hope among the Cameroon press family, and among family members and loved ones, who have variously expressed unreserved indignation following the alleged murder of the 34-year old journalist.

                Though many question why it should be the French Ambassador, and not the government spokesperson, to announce the plan by President Biya to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the tragedy, commentators admit that, like the Ngarbuh Massacre, the report of the inquiry might answer the many questions that surround the arrest and eventual death of the journalist.

                It is hoped also that the open-ended and ‘unconvincing’ statement by the military spokesman, saying Wazizi died of severe sepsis, few days after he was arraigned in custody, on charges of terrorism and apology to terrorism, would either be dismissed or validated.

                Noteworthy is the fact that family members of the deceased journalist have since dismissed the statement by the military spokesman as a blatant “lie”. The senior brother of the deceased in video posted on social media, said their family was never informed of the death of Wazizi, reason they together with their legal counsels, continued pressing for the unconditional release (habeas corpus) of Wazizi.

                He said at no instance during the many court sessions did the military investigators mention the death of Wazizi.

                Perhaps it should be mentioned that despite the sustained pressure mounted on the government by pressmen in the country for Wazizi to be released, it was only after Equinoxe TV reported the death in jail of the journalist that the government ever bothered to make a statement on the matter.

                As for the governor of the SW region, where the journalist worked, he told prying journalists who stormed his office early last week that Wazizi was healthy at the time of his arraignment in custody in Buea. Okalia Bilai says questions as to what happened to Wazizi out of Buea are not within his competence to answer.

                Journalist Wazizi was arrested in Buea in August 2019 and incarcerated at the Muea Police station. He was later transferred and jailed incommunicado at an unknown jail house in Yaounde, according to reports.

                As lawyers pressed for his release, it was only last week that Equinoxe TV revealed that Wazizi had died almost a year ago. The Mindef later confirmed the death, but said the journalist died of ‘serious sepsis’ and not because of torture.               

                It remains to be known whether Wazizi died of natural causes, or he was murdered by his jailors. Until this doubt is cleared, journalists and family members have continued cursing the government for killing their colleague.