UPDATE: Dangote Not Among 170 Held Hostage By Terrorists

Contrary to earlier reports that Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man was in a five-star hotel in Mali, where 170 people are being held hostage, the rich business mogul is reported to be in Lagos.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, the gunmen attacked Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, today, Friday, November 20 and about 170 are being held hostage. The gunmen who shouted “Allahu Akbar” opened fire outside the hotel before storming it.
A business owner, Garba Konate, who spoke to Al Jazeera, said the group of attackers showed up about three hours earlier.
About 10 gunmen arrived early in the morning and shot all the guards in front of the Radisson. I started hearing gunshots coming from the hotel,” said Ibrahim, 28, who works at a cultural centre 40 metres away. Soon after I saw one of the guards running out, injured… The security guard told me the shooters were so quick that he doesn’t even know how many came in,” he told Al Jazeera.