Two British drill musicians from Liverpool’s Toxteth area have become subjects of a potential police investigation following their apparent participation in armed activities within Somalia’s volatile clan conflicts. Abdifatah Gulaid, 31, and Noah Ihiekwe, 30, who perform under the stage names Still Brickin’ and Rayzer respectively, were documented in military attire alongside armed troops in northeastern Somalia earlier this year.
The BBC-obtained footage shows Gulaid delivering inflammatory statements to soldiers, declaring that ‘the time for talk is finished’ and promising to demonstrate their ‘mettle in battle.’ The rappers’ journey to conflict zones began under suspicious circumstances—they were among six men detained during a January drug raid in Phuket, Thailand, where authorities seized 6kg of cannabis and 39 tanks of nitrous oxide from their luxury villa. Though released without charges, the men subsequently traveled to Somalia’s Sanaag region.
This territory remains disputed between the self-declared Republic of Somaliland and the autonomous state of Puntland, with longstanding inter-clan tensions over resources and historical grievances. Gulaid maintains affiliation with the Warsangeli clan, currently engaged in hostilities against the rival Isaaq clan aligned with Somaliland.
An international consultant present at Badhan’s Laasqoray Hotel described witnessing the rappers transition from casual Western attire to combat gear while brandishing assault rifles. Their presence coincided with a significant escalation in regional violence, including armed confrontations that endangered civilian areas.
According to Dr. Idil Osman of the University of Leicester, diaspora communities often maintain strong connections to Somali clan politics, sometimes drawing them into overseas conflicts. While the UK government emphasizes that any citizen engaging in unlawful activities abroad faces investigation upon return, legal expert Clive Walker notes prosecution complexities unless involvement with proscribed organizations like Al-Shabaab is established. The individuals were last reported in Dubai, with their eventual return to Britain likely to prompt official inquiries.