Hundreds Of Sierra Leoneans Shave Off Their Hair In Solidarity With Rapper LAJ
Hundreds of Sierra Leoneans from across the world including artists, global activists, celebrities, friends and fans of rapper LAJ have all shaved off their hair in solidarity with rapper LAJ who was arrested and detained on the 12th of June 2022.
In a press statement released earlier today, the Sierra Leone Police Media Department says it is the Standard Operating Procedure of the holding centre custody facility where LAJ is detained to shave off the head of all-male suspects for “health and other security reasons” and this was clearly explained to him before his dreadlocks were cut off.
The Sierra Leone Police, in the press release, however, denied reports that the rapper was also injected with a red substance while in police custody.
Rapper LAJ who was arrested on Sunday 12th June 2022 in Freetown is being investigated for alleged “robbery and violent conduct”, according to the police.
He has not appeared in court since he was arrested and the police say they are still waiting for legal advice for the appropriate criminal charges on his file.
The rapper’s lawyer, Madieu Sesay, has in an open letter to the Inspector General of Police claimed that his client has been tortured and unlawfully detained with no access to his lawyer and family.
Following the release and confirmation that they have cut off the dreadlocks of popular musician, Alhaji Amadu Bah (LAJ) while in detention. Hundreds of Sierra Leoneans from across the world who saw this as human rights violation have called for the arrest and shaving off his hair as unlawful and inhumane
Human rights Lawyer Sorie Sengbeh Marrah Esq has noted during an interview at AYV that the Benghazi detention facility should be dismantled and “it is not just about LAJ, but Benghazi should be dismantled. People have to go police station and they should be treated right, they are suspects, they should be treated right”, he said.
Fake Degree whistleblower, Dr John Idriss Lahai, popular cultural artiste and storyteller Cowfoot Prince Usifu Jalloh, Fantacee Wiz Camara, Missy Creams and a host of others have shaved off their hair in solidarity with Rapper LAJ who was arrested and tortured last week.
Dr John Idriss Lahai has in the early hours of Sunday 19th June 2022 shaved his head in solidarity with Sierra Leonean Rapper, King Boss LAJ.
Dr John Idriss Lahai, who is currently the most searched Facebook user in Sierra Leone in recent times courtesy of the crusade against fake degree holders in Sierra Leone which he leads, took to Facebook with a hair clipper that he used to shave his hair. The “Fake Degree Karafilo” during the video stated that LAJ is a suspect as the Media Release from the Sierra Leone Police clearly put and thus his fundamental rights stay intact. “Foday Sankoh who committed war crimes during the brutal civil war was kept at Benghazi for a whole year, yet his hair was not shaved so why should the police shave the rapper’s dreadlocks?” Dr Lahai questioned. During the live Facebook video, he further mentioned that the treatment meted on the rapper is unfair and utterly condemned such an act.
The “Fake Degree karafilo” called the attention of President Bio positioning that he is “a President for not just people like Kao Denero but equally people like LAJ” and so he should intervene and let the right things done. Dr Lahai sarcastically questioned the whereabouts of the rapper’s hair, stating that he is “going to count them one after another to ensure no one has taken it to do ‘juju’. Dr Lahai pointed out that King Boss LA “has the right to sue the state for what has been done to him at Benghazi,” adding that even those at Pademba Road Correctional Centre are not treated in such manner. “What if the court of law finds the young man not guilty, what’s the necessity of shaving his hair then?” He asked.
“I have shaved my head and gone bald to show solidarity with LAJ and to demonstrate against the ill-treatment he is receiving,” stated the revered Doctor.
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Sierra Leone’s Entertainment Ambassador and rapper, Kao Denero has noted in a press release that treatments received by LAJ and other compatriots in entertainment while at Benghazi are unfair as they should be accorded their fundamental rights while in custody. Ambassador Kao Denero called on relevant state authorities to take the right steps in ensuring fairness in the entire matter, adding that he is saddened that his brothers are languishing in the hands of the police.
Trending hashtags in the currently leading the campaign to call for the release of LAJ and a host of others arrested are;
#JustceForLAJ #endbenghazi #endpolicebrutality
