Social media star YourFellowArab has been taken hostage in Haiti by one of the gangs who have become de-facto leaders in the midst of the violence that has ravaged the Caribbean island.
YourFellowArab, whose real name is Addison Pierre Maalouf, was on the island to interview the man known popularly as Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cerisier, the most powerful gang leader in the country.
On March 14, Maalouf was taken by a gang known as the 400 Mawozo, led by kingpin Lanmo 100 jou, who is on the FBI most wanted list. Maalouf is being held for a ransom of $600,000.
Around $40,000 has been paid so far to the hostage takers, reports Haiti24. A Haitian colleague was also taken.
Maalouf, who is of Lebanese descent, is based in Atlanta. On his official website, Maalouf refers to himself as a ‘comedian, pro player and content creator… Man of the people.’
One of Maalouf’s colleagues, Twitch stream Lalem, confirmed in an X post that his friend had been taken hostage. He ended the message on a positive note saying: ‘He’ll be out soon.’
Lalem reposted the last video that Maalouf posted, showing him in Haiti. He tells viewers about the dangers of being in the country at the present time.
Maalouf says that his crew intended to travel to Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince but that they were waiting to leave in the early hours of the morning so that they would arrive there in day light.
‘All it takes is one stupid gang member holding an AK-47 for one thing to go wrong,’ he tells his followers.
Lalem also asked those with Maalouf’s phone number not to text him for his own safety.
When Maalouf left for Haiti he tweeted: ‘Going on another one of those trips. If I die, thanks for watching what I’ve put out. If I live, all glory to God.’
The FBI is offering a reward of $1 million for information that results in the arrest of Lanmo 100 jou.
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