At the heart of Cameroonian news, the mysterious death of priest Jean-Jacques Ola Bébé continues to challenge the authorities and raise many questions. This priest, known for his interventions in the media on current affairs and social issues, was found dead in Yaoundé almost eight months ago. His death came just two weeks after the disappearance of famous radio host Martinez Zogo, sparking speculation about a possible link between the two cases.
According to information communicated by the NGO Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture, Acat, Father Jean-Jacques Ola Bébé had publicly expressed his opinion on the Martinez Zogo affair. He notably questioned certain information circulating around this affair, affirming that it was manipulation aimed at wrongly incriminating people.
However, the circumstances surrounding the priest’s death remain unclear. His partner would have received a call from the gendarmerie announcing that the body of Jean-Jacques Ola Bébé had been transported to the morgue of the Yaoundé Central Hospital. But it took weeks before the body could be identified by the family and members of the Orthodox Byzantine Catholic Church to which it belonged.
Faced with this silence and the lack of communication from the authorities, several international organizations have called on the Cameroonian authorities. The UN human rights office, UNESCO, Human Rights Watch and recently Acat have called on the authorities to investigate this matter and demonstrate transparency.
However, according to statements by the Director of the media observatory of the Ministry of Communication of Cameroon, nothing indicates that the death of Jean-Jacques Ola Bébé is linked to the Martinez Zogo affair and that it was not not from a journalist.
Despite this, Acat-France, through its director Clément Boursin, called on all its members to write to the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, in order to request an investigation into this assassination and to remind the authorities of their duty to protect all citizens, whether they are journalists or not.
This case highlights the need to do justice and shed light on the circumstances of the death of priest Jean-Jacques Ola Bébé. As the country is marked by a series of mysterious deaths, it is crucial that the authorities take the matter seriously and carry out a thorough investigation so that the truth finally comes to light. The Cameroonian people and the international community are waiting for answers and concrete measures to fight against impunity and protect the fundamental rights of everyone.