By Abuck Cheng Honorine
Monday September 2nd wasn’t a good morning at all for the Journalism family as the wicked hands of death snatched Beng Humphrey at 28years only. This Journalist leaves the stage too early. The journalism core accross Cameroon mourns the Desk Editor of the Voice Newspaper.
According to first hand report from his siblings, he returned from the village 2days back where he went to visit his parents in Weh Menchum Division, North West Region after also accompanying a guest who came visiting.
Upon return, he bought roasted fish which he ate at about 1am before going to bed. Sources say at about 2am, he opened the door for another family member who came in late. That same morning, family members realized he was stiff and motionless. Rushed to the Etoug Egbe hospital in Yaounde, he was confirmed dead.
Messages of condolence have been streaming in from all Whatsapp journalism forums, testifying his assiduity and excellent spirit. All Kini Nsom could say and l quote was “shocking!, Terrorising and devastating to my ears”.
This freelance journalist was multitasking with Cam 10 TV on the program The Papers, an NGO and the Weh Youths Association of Menchum Division. Ayang Mac Donald said and l quote “No, no , no!!, A joke???? Ohh, I fondly called him “Mr Beng” and he would smile over. What an unbelievable morning!!
Yes, indeed unbelievable for the 4th estate, yet terrible as Kum Leonard qualifies it. As for Solomon Tembeng, he iterated “life is nothing, vanity upon vanity. It’s now too hard to believe that someone who was in communication throughout the week with his colleagues is now laying at the Biyem Assi morgue.
The heart wrecking news of his demise leaves too many in disbelieve that he may have been targeted and poisoned or better still, he may have died as a result of food poisoning, perhaps from the roasted fish he last ate alongside a relative at home who is still alive. Who knows, it may have been contaminated. Only an autopsy can best tell as some blame it to witchcraft or better put, his village people.
Dr. Olive Ejang maintains “this life is too complicated to understand as he died just at his prime”. At the Journalist of Intergrity (JI) forum, Mua Paul remained numb while Commy Mussa lamented on the brevity of life.
Mbe Nkemngu on his Part remembers him as “young and dynamic, serviceable with a contagious smile”. Blood of Jesus, what a world, terrifying, difficult to say goodbye, speechless, impossible, these are the words that poured in at JI.
Franklin Sone Bayern said, “his big dreams have been shattered and enormous talents wasted, Sad world!” Samsom websi qualifies him as “smart, humble, soft spoken and always burning with a desire to learn”.
As press releases continue to stream in, truth stands, Mbeng Humphrey has truely but sadly and forcefully retired from life’s stage. All we now hope is for this agile Soldier of the Mic and Pen to journey well despite this painful exit.
Adieu Humphrey Beng.
Abuck Cheng Honorine
Data Journalist/ Content Creator
