Cameroon martinez zogo torture video revealed in court

The high-profile trial surrounding the murder of Martinez Zogo, a prominent Cameroonian radio host whose body was discovered in January 2023 following a brutal attack, resumed on June 1, 2026, at the military court in Yaoundé. A chilling development unfolded during the session: a video was presented, depicting the late journalist bound and bleeding, pleading for help. The footage, recovered from a suspect’s digital files, has sent shockwaves through the courtroom.

The session at the Yaoundé military tribunal centered on Martinez Zogo, a fearless radio personality from Amplitudes FM known for his relentless criticism of public figures in Cameroon. He was abducted in January 2023 and later found dead under harrowing circumstances.

An expert in digital forensics, Professor Georges Bell Bitjocka, took the stand to detail his analysis of the accused’s mobile devices. His findings included graphic evidence that has now become a pivotal element of the prosecution’s case.

A video showing Martinez Zogo in a state of distress—his hands bound, bloodied, and one ear visibly injured—was played for the first time in court. The journalist’s desperate pleas for mercy echoed through the chamber, leaving an indelible mark on everyone present.

A moment of raw emotion

As the footage played, the courtroom fell into a stunned silence, broken only by the sound of muffled sobs. Ludovic Zabze, legal representative for Amplitudes FM, shared his visceral reaction: « When the video ended, I couldn’t look at the accused. The weight of what we had just witnessed was overwhelming—emotionally devastating.»

The video was uncovered in the Google account of Godje Oumarou, one of the accused and a member of the alleged hit squad responsible for Zogo’s death.

Investigators revealed further damning details. On the evening of January 17, 2023, a conversation took place between Oumarou and Justin Danwe, a high-ranking officer in Cameroon’s external intelligence agency, in which the phrase « take the images of the mouse » was used—a coded reference to Martinez Zogo.

Maxime Eko Eko, former director of the intelligence agency, faces charges, though his defense attorney, Séri Zokou, vehemently denies any connection: « My client has no involvement whatsoever in these events. The phone records provided to the joint investigation commission and the examining judge contained nothing implicating him.»

Professor Bitjocka also examined the phones of other key suspects, including Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, a media mogul, Bruno Bidjang, and Martin Savom, a local mayor.

Calvin Job, legal counsel for Zogo’s family, emphasized the gravity of the evidence: « If the court relies on this report, it will have already resolved 98% of the case.»

Recapping the Martinez Zogo case

On January 22, 2023, Cameroonians awoke to the grim news of Martinez Zogo’s death. The 51-year-old radio host, whose real name was Arsène Salomon Mbani Zogo, left behind a grieving family. His morning radio program, « Embouteillages, » was a platform where he fearlessly exposed societal and political corruption—though notably spared the country’s president, Paul Biya, from his critiques.

Zogo was abducted on the evening of January 17, 2023, and found lifeless the following morning, stripped of clothing and bearing unmistakable signs of torture, approximately 25 kilometers outside Yaoundé.

The investigation, led by Colonel-magistrate Pierrot Narcisse Nzie, concluded with 17 individuals charged and detained, including Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, former head of Cameroon’s external intelligence agency; Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Danwe, a former operations director; Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, media tycoon; and Stéphane Martin Savom, a mayor from the Central Region.

After prolonged procedural delays, the trial for murder, torture, abduction, and unlawful confinement commenced on March 25, 2024, at the military court in Yaoundé. Substantive hearings began on September 1, 2025, bringing the nation’s attention to one of the most tragic cases in recent memory.