Africa's youngest billionaire free 9 days after abduction

The man described as Africa's youngest billionaire said Saturday he is free more than a week after his abduction from a luxury hotel in Tanzania's commercial capital, while police suggested his captors came from South Africa.

"I thank Allah that I have returned home safely," said a statement released by the 43-year-old Mohammed Dewji's foundation. It did not give details about the October 11 abduction or what led to his release but thanked police for working for his safe return.

Dewji, while arriving at the hotel for a workout, had been seized by two masked gunmen who fired into the air before driving away.

Regional authorities have said two white men were seen on surveillance video, and they tightened controls at border posts and airports.

"We got information that the abductors used the same car that was used to seize him at the Colosseum Hotel and dumped him at gymkhana (sports facility) grounds," Dar es Salaam Regional Police Chief Lazaro Mambosasa said on Saturday.

"We found him there physically fit, and we suspect that the abductors are South Africans because he said they were communicating in one of the vernacular from that country."