Lilongwe has been left reeling after armed men kidnapped the Managing Director of Crossroads Hotel in a shocking daylight attack that has rattled Malawi’s business community especially in the Asian Community.
The incident occurred on Friday morning, 6 February 2026, at the Crossroads Hotel premises, one of the capital’s busiest commercial hubs.
According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants arrived at the hotel, forcibly seized the CEO, Sameer Sacranie, and bundled him into a waiting vehicle.
Gunshots were reportedly fired into the air to scare off onlookers before the attackers sped away. CCTV footage of the incident has since surfaced online, showing the vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction, further confirming the boldness of the operation.
As of the latest updates, Malawi Police have not released an official detailed statement, and no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The motive behind the abduction remains unclear, with authorities yet to confirm whether it was a ransom-driven crime or linked to other factors.
However, for discussion purposes, social media has been buzzing with myths that the kidnappers are well known business partners of Sameer Sacranie and that he owes them huge sums of money for forfeiting repayment.
While others are suggesting that the kidnappers took Sacranie so they can demand ransom in foreign currency just so they acquire the most scarce resource in Malawi right now. Some are saying the kidnappers want to demand ransom for aiding ‘tax invasion’ through writing off Crossroads taxes.
All in all, these are just speculations that have emerged on social media. Furthermore, it is known that the initial vehicle used during the kidnapping was switched with another during the run.
It is said the owner of the vehicle has been identified and that he is the one who located it, aiding the process in the process as well. But he knows nothing because the kidnappers simply hired the vehicle for personal use. Okay. We listen,we don’t judge
The kidnapping has sparked widespread fear and debate, particularly among business owners and residents in Lilongwe, who are questioning public safety in high-traffic areas. Komano did Sameer had any security detail? Or does the premise render security services from well trained private company or the Malawi police?
While some have taken to social media to express concern over what they describe as a growing trend of violent crime targeting prominent individuals, others have turned the social media into a special detective unit discussing opinions on potential reason for the kidnapping.