Mohammed Dewji, the man said to be Africa’s youngest billionaire has been kidnapped by gunmen in Tanzania according to Dar es Salaam police.
Mohammed, 43 was kidnapped en route a hotel gym where he does his morning workout
The police have revealed that three people have been arrested in connection with the incident and two of the abductors are believed to be foreign nationals.
The motive for Mr. Dewji’s abduction is still unclear.
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Mohammed is described as Tanzania’s only billionaire as Forbes puts his wealth at $1.5bn.
In a 2017 report, it said Mr. Dewji was Africa’s youngest billionaire.
He promised in 2016 to donate at least half his fortune to philanthropic causes, Forbes said.
Mohammed, fondly called Mo by locals, is reputed for having turned his family business, METL, from a retail and wholesale business into a Pan-African conglomerate, reports Athuman Mtulya, a BBC Reporter.
His company has interests in textile manufacturing, flour milling, beverages, and edible oils in at least six African states.
Environment Minister and friend to Mohammed, January Makamba confirmed the kidnap in a tweet
The kidnappers fired shots in the air before driving away with the billionaire, eyewitnesses said.
Mr. Dewji, a fitness enthusiast, had no security guards with him and had driven to the gym in an affluent suburb on his own, Dar es Salaam regional police commissioner Paul Makonda told reporters.
Two of the kidnappers were white men, he added.
