Hip hop fans were shot in Sierra Leone

My follow brothers, sisters in Sierra Leone and those who are in the states, last year’s people die and this year people are still being killed.  This is getting out of hand. We cannot open our hands to bring sorrow and pain back to the country.   We must understand that the only way our Sierra Leone will change is to bring peace and positive thinking to the country. It truly hurtful to see in the news what is going on this past two days. We need to learn from the past so that we can see a better and
clear future for Sierra Leone. I’m asking you to think of your actions before more people die.

BBC Reporter Umaru Fofana Story about LAJ & Big Fish .

Hip Hop gang rivalry kills 3 in Sierra Leone © BBC Focus on Africa Date: 14 January 2012 Reporter: Umaru Fofana, Freetown The innocence on the pristine sandy beaches at Lumley in the west of Freetown was compromised at sunrise this morning after an apparent hip hop gang related violence left three killed. The full detail is yet unclear but police sources say popular hip hop artist Alhaji Bah aka LAJ has been arrested. The police local unit commander at the Congo Cross police station in Freetown says they are hunting for Big Fish whose real name is not yet known. 

A statment from Alhaji Bah aka LAJ to his fans on 1/16/12 

"I want To Take This time thank All Allah for My life, Thanks to All the Fans for the strong support. Don't listen to all the rumors, am not in Jail am fine. I was been chased by group of guys when their car Crashed and killed few people. I was running away for my dare life and i am completely innocent of harming any body. Please Do not pay attention to false allegations made by some over the media as the Truth remains. Its unfortunate lives where lost during the Car Crash may Their Souls Rest in Peace. tenki tenki for the support and please keep mama Salone in your Prayers.....leh God help we all..."

Superintendent Mohamed Jobe said preliminary investigations indicate that a fan of LAJ's had a brawl with Big Fish inside a nightclub over a 21-year-old woman. The situation degenerated with the two sets of fans chasing each other to show supremacy. Eyewitnesses say that the music star LAJ left the nightclub at sunrise and stopped on the main Lumley beach road where he was chased by rival gang supporters. In a country where gun ownership is outlawed, he then allegedly brought out a gun and fired some shots before boarding his car and driving off with his group of fans. They were chased by Big Fish and a group of other gang members who, apparently owing to terrific speed and some deflated tyres, had an accident killing one person on board and a passer by. It is not clear how the third person died later at a hospital. Violent hip hop gang rivalry is not uncommon here. In December 2010, it took a sinister turn and led to an orgy of looting and vandalism by thousands of gang members with some supporting the Red Flag Movement led by LAJ and others the Black Leo Movement led by another popular hip hop star Kao Denero. Neither artist was charged. Government intervened and spoke to the two gang leaders and their supporters to cease fire. Their shows were even banned. Sierra Leone's lead entertainment writer, Murtala Mohamed Kamara says it is a rivalry that extends even to the United States where the two artists are based; and is mirrored on the hiphop gang situation there. He says it should not be taken lightly especially with youth unemployment rife in the country and many of the fans seeing their gang leaders as their only means of economic success. He says the groups have some attachment to politicians which could impact presidential and legislative elections scheduled for later this year.

Dee Jay Prezo--