According to the local journalists’ union, Anye Nde Nsoh, a journalist was killed by gunmen late on Sunday in Bamenda, a city in the turbulent northwest area of Cameroon. This is at least the third death of a media professional in the Central African nation this year.
Anye Nde Nsoh, the bureau chief for the west and northwest regions of the weekly newspaper the Advocate, was shot while he was inside a bar in Bamenda’s Ntarikon neighborhood, according to a coworker Melanie Ndefru who was nearby when the attack took place.
The United Nations expressed worry about the media environment earlier this year when a radio host and a journalist were killed in two separate attacks in or close to the capital Yaounde.
Nsoh’s death was confirmed by the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ), who also demanded an investigation.
“This latest attack on a journalist is one too many. The long-drawn conflict in the northwest and southwest regions has pitched journalists into grave danger,” said CAMASEJ President Jude Viban.
The regional authorities did not know about the attack, according to a spokeswoman. No one has yet taken ownership of the situation.
Both sides of the conflict between armed separatists and government forces have resulted in thousands of fatalities and atrocities.
According to Nsoh’s boss, he had just finished working on the newspaper’s Monday issue, which had two of his stories—one of which was on the main page.
“It was a shock to hear about his demise,” said Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe, publisher of the Advocate.