The remains of the Bishop of Bafia have been recovered from the river Sanaga, precisely at Dang. His body was found late on Friday, June 2, 2017 by a team of divers. The Biya regime transported the late Bishop Balla’s body under a strong security escort to the Yaounde General Hospital. Upon arrival at the general hospital, no camera was allowed to film the transfer of the prelate’s body from the ambulance to the morgue.

Governor Naseri Paul Bea announced on state radio and television that a major investigation will be conducted including an autopsy to determine the cause of death.  The Bishop left his residence in a 4 × 4 Toyota Prado that was given to him some years ago by the former Secretary General at the presidency of the republic, Jean Atangana Mebara.  The Prado was found empty and stationed on a bridge in Ebebda.  Indeed, Bishop Jean-Marie Benoît Balla had left a note on a Bafia Diocese headed paper that “I am in the water.”

Bishop Jean Marie Benoît Bala was born on May 1959 in Oweng Mbalmayo. He is originally from Mbankomo in the Mefou-Akono Division in the Central region. He was appointed head of the diocese of Bafia in 2003. Cameroon Intelligence Report sources say he had very closed ties with the Biya regime.

By Sama Ernest