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Mohammed Dewji, the man described as the youngest billionaire in Africa, said he was free more than a week after his kidnapping.
(AFP / Getty Images)
The man described as the youngest billionaire in Africa announced Saturday that he was free more than a week after being kidnapped in a luxury hotel in Tanzania.
"I thank Allah for coming home safely," said a statement released by the Mohammed Dewji Foundation.
"I thank all my Tanzanian compatriots and everyone in the world for their prayers. I thank the Tanzanian authorities, including the police, for working towards my safe return, "the statement said.
Dewji, 43, did not give details about the October 11 kidnapping or what led to his release. According to Forbes, his net worth would be about $ 1.5 billion. He is the 17th richest man in Africa, according to Reuters. He is credited with taking over his family business and turning it into a retail business.
Mr. Dewji was at the training session last week at the Colosseum Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, when he was seized by two masked men who fired in the air before they s & # 39; away. Regional authorities said two white men were seen on a surveillance video and tightened controls at border posts and airports.
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The billionaire's family offered a reward of $ 440,000 for any information to find Dewji, the BBC reported. Police Inspector General Simon Sirro told reporters that the kidnappers had demanded ransom but did not specify the amount or amount paid.
Dar es Salaam regional police chief, Lazaro Mambosasa, said Saturday that he had received reports that the kidnappers "used the same car that was used to seize him at the Colosseum Hotel and l '. had thrown on the field of the sports complex.
"We found him physically fit and we suspect the kidnappers are South Africans because he said they were communicating in one of the vernacular languages of this country" , did he declare.
Mambosasa said Dewji could not see the kidnappers because he was tied by the legs and hands while his face was covered.
"He told us that they treated him very well and gave him food," said Mambosasa.
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Police seized the vehicle with an AK-47 assault rifle, two guns and several rounds of ammunition, Sirro said. He also said that the kidnappers tried to burn the car after throwing Dewji.
Jan Makamba, Tanzanian Minister of Environment and close friend of Dewji, spoke with the billionaire.
"I just talked to him and his father 20 minutes ago. In his voice, he is as usual Mo. So he is fine. Thank you all for your prayers. God is really great. Go see it now, "tweeted Makamba.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
