“I am in the water” Catholic Bishop allegedly commits suicide in Cameroon

Bishop Jean-Marie Balla, has reportedly killed himself under a bridge at Ebebda some 78Km from the nation’s capital Yaoundé. The prelate’s car and a statement left by him
saying “I am in the water” suggest that the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bafia would have committed suicide.
According to Cameroon concord news, the vehicle of the Bishop of Bafia was found on the 31st of May 2017 beside a bridge at Ebebda, a small locality in the department of Lekié, Central region.

According to the Senior Divisional Officer for Mban and Inoubou, Maurice Tchoffo, it is difficult at the moment to know what really happened to the Man of God.  Indeed, the prelate’s personal documents were found in his vehicle, as well as a piece of paper containing the inscription “I am in the water” suggesting that he had indeed committed suicide. Bishop Benoît Balla, 58, to many around the world has committed sacrilege that will hunt the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon forever.
The Divisional Officer, told the press that a Reverend Father informed him about the incident at about 1pm. “I immediately ran to the scene and saw for myself. The car is truly here on the bridge and the note the Bishop left suggests he jumped into the river”, said the DO.
He also said no damage had been done to the car which indicates there was no violence. “His collaborators told us he left the diocese yesterday at about 11:30pm but no one knew where he was going to. But from the direction his car is facing, one can conclude he was going to Yaounde,” he said, adding that investigations have been opened to find the Bishop and also, to determine what really happened.
Meanwhile, observers say nothing can be conclusive until investigators publish a report. They argue the Bishop might have been assassinated and thrown into the river.