Gendarmerie officer reports death threats in Martinez Zogo Murder Trial ⁰

Lieutenant Colonel Ayissi Nanga, a Cameroonian gendarmerie officer, told the Yaoundé Military Court on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, that he had received death threats since being called to testify in the trial over the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo. The officer requested protection while confirming that he remained willing to testify. The presiding judge acknowledged his statements and instructed the government prosecutor to take steps to ensure his safety.

It was shortly after 8 p.m. when Ayissi Nanga appeared before the judges. He explained that the information he possessed exposed him to risks and that he had decided to speak despite the alleged threats. Describing the dilemma he faced, he referred to a choice between the court’s anger and his own life. However, he did not identify the source of the threats or name anyone he suspected of making them. Ayissi Nanga is scheduled to testify after Lieutenant Colonel Dieudonné Bialo, whose cross-examination is still underway before the military court. Currently the deputy commander of the South Gendarmerie Legion, Ayissi Nanga headed the Mfoundi Gendarmerie Group at the time of the events in January 2023. He was involved in the initial investigation into the journalist’s murder before joining the joint police-gendarmerie commission assigned to the case.

His role on that commission has come up repeatedly during Dieudonné Bialo’s testimony. Bialo explained that he replaced Ayissi Nanga after the latter was admitted to the War College in Yaoundé. However, questioning has also focused on Ayissi Nanga’s continued participation in some of the commission’s work despite that reported replacement. The precise circumstances of the change in personnel are among the issues raised by the defense.

Ayissi Nanga’s testimony may therefore help clarify how the initial investigation was organized and conducted. However, his appearance on October 13 provided no indication of what information he intends to share with the judges or whether the threats he says he has received are connected to his involvement in the investigation. The officer spoke while the court was considering whether to adjourn the hearing. The cross-examination of Dieudonné Bialo by defendant Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, former director general of the General Directorate for External Research (DGRE), had not yet concluded. The government prosecutor wanted proceedings to continue so that the next witness could subsequently be heard. At this stage, no details have been provided in court about the security measures prosecutors will take to protect Ayissi Nanga before his testimony.

Source: Sbbc