Freetown, Sierra Leone – Police are conducting a nationwide manhunt for Mohamed Bah, a 20-year-old Fullah man and well-known social media influencer, following his dramatic escape from custody after the controversial death of his alleged partner, Denis.
Bah, whose presence in Thunder Hill had long been a source of heated debate, was arrested on August 5, 2023, after an elderly resident reported seeing him engage in public affection with another man outside a local bar. Acting swiftly, police raided Bah’s residence, allegedly catching him in an intimate moment with Denis, confirming long-standing community suspicions about his lifestyle.
Bah’s father, Bailoh Bah, a respected gold miner, had made numerous efforts to curb his son’s reputation. As a devout member of the Fullah community, he sought to steer Mohamed toward traditional values, even arranging a marriage between him and his cousin, Hajaratu Jalloh, on July 26, 2023. However, Bah’s open defiance brought deep shame to his family and tribe.
“My tribe and my religion would never accept such a son,” Bailoh Bah reportedly told authorities after his son’s arrest. The deeply religious Fullah people consider homosexuality an unforgivable disgrace, and Bah’s actions had already sparked anger among conservative members of the community.
Following their arrest, Bah and Denis were detained at Thunder Hill Police Station, where they were interrogated. But just five days later, on August 10, Denis was found dead in his cell under suspicious circumstances.
Official police reports claim Denis committed suicide using his own clothing, but unconfirmed sources suggest that his body bore injuries inconsistent with self-harm. His sudden death ignited further outrage, with Thunder Hill residents calling for harsher crackdowns on individuals like Bah.
Before authorities could formally charge him, Bah managed to escape custody, setting off an intense search operation.
Police later detained Festus, one of Bah’s close friends from Maxwell Street, who, under questioning, admitted that Bah was attempting to flee to Guinea. However, his exact location remains unknown.
Reports also emerged that Bah, suffering from injuries, sought medical attention at Rokupa Hospital in Wellington, Freetown. However, hospital staff allegedly refused to treat him without police clearance, forcing him to continue his escape while in severe pain.
With Bah still on the run, authorities warn that he remains a wanted fugitive. Many in Thunder Hill believe that his escape is a direct challenge to traditional values, as his influence had already encouraged youths to adopt behaviors deemed a threat to African cultural and religious norms.
While international human rights groups may attempt to secure asylum for Bah, critics argue that any nation providing him refuge would be undermining African traditions.
Gay relationships are illegal in Sierra Leone pursuant to the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861, persons convicted for faces a life sentence in prison.
For now, his whereabouts remain a mystery, but authorities remain determined to track him down.
