29 March 2024 , 17:29
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An American YouTube and Twitch star known as YourFellowArab has reportedly been kidnapped in Haiti. He was trying to interview gang leader Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier when he was allegedly taken by the 400 Mawozo gang.
Local reports suggest he was held in the area of Croix-des-Bouquets. The gang's ringleader is Joseph Wilson, also known as Lanmo San Jou which means "death has no appointed time".
The group had previously kidnapped 16 American missionaries and one Canadian in 2021. He'd threatened to kill those hostages whilst dressed like Baron Samdi, a spirit of the dead in Haitian Vodou.
YourFellowArab, whose real name is Addison Pierre Maalouf, was visiting Delmas 6, a region in Port-au-Prince, in order to talk with Barbecue when he was taken on March 14.
READ MORE: Haiti expat in US says 'anything could happen' as he fears for niece's life amid violence explosion
'I ventured into Alcatraz after dark and was terrified by what I saw and heard'
Maalouf is known online as YourFellowArab (file) (arab/Instagram)Gangsters from 400 Mawozo are said to have acted on direct orders from their boss. Interestingly, despite being rivals in the past, 400 Mawozo has reportedly become part of the gang alliance led by Barbecue.
His kidnappers are asking for $600,000 (£475,000) in ransom money for his release, according to local news outlet Haiti24. It has been claimed that £31,700 ($40,000) has already been paid.
Joseph Wilson - here dressed as Bawon Samdi (file) (YouTube)Addison, who makes videos about gangs for his YouTube channel, has been to dangerous places before, like the favelas in Rio de Janeiro where he met gun-toting criminals.
Another person who streams on Twitch, Lalem, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, today (March 29): "Tried keeping it private for 2 weeks, but it's getting out everywhere now, yes Arab has been kidnapped in Haiti and we're working on getting him out. Love ya'll he'll be out soon."
Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier (file) (AFP via Getty Images)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Miles Routledge, a British YouTuber who often visits risky places, says he talked to Addison on the phone. He shared that Addison was with someone named Sean Roubens Jean Sacra when they were both taken.
The situation in Haiti shows little sign of improving (file) (AFP via Getty Images)Routledge said the gang members who took them want less money now, just "five figures". He also said: "Arab has been kept in a cage in a place on the eastern outskirts of the Capital, Port-au-Prince."
"Arab has said that even though this is tough, he's going to make an amazing video about it and he'll be free really soon. Sean could have left because they said he could go, but he's a good friend and won't leave Arab alone, so he chose to stay."