Ernest Sumelong
28 April 2008
Judicial police officers have begun interrogating some close friends and others, allegedly linked to the mysterious and sudden death of Chief Joseph Esuka Joke of Molyko, Buea.
Most of those interrogated, The Post learned, were seen with the Chief before his death in the wee hours of Friday, April 25.
Molyko inhabitants were alarmed when news broke out that Chief Esuka, 39, had died by 2 am. Prior to his death, the young chief had carried on his daily activities normally and even spent time drinking with his entourage, but did not complain of any malaise, The Post was told.
Esuka had retired home by 5 pm on Thursday, rested a while and went out again before finally returning at 10 pm, according to his wife, Margaret Ebob."While we slept that night, at about 2 am, he got up and said he was feeling hot and asked me to put on the fan.
Immediately, he screamed, holding his stomach and I noticed that his eyes had turned 'inside'. I called for help and we rushed him to the hospital only to discover that he had died," Mrs. Esuka said, sobbing.
While the circumstances surrounding the Chief's death are still unclear, many, including his wife, believe that he might have been killed. His death, sources say, is likely connected to controversial land issues.
According to them, the new parcel of land ceded to the Chief on behalf of the indigenes attracted attention and envy from many quarters. Even his wife corroborated this view.
Hear her: "My husband must have been killed because of the new site given recently to the local community."
Meantime, local administrative officials are pursuing investigations into the death pending post mortem results.Before becoming chief, Esuka Joke was a Buea township taxi driver who acceded to the Molyko chieftaincy in 1998 and was officially installed in 2002.
His accession to the chieftaincy thrown, The Post learnt was also controversial.
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