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A British woman who was kidnapped in Malawi has been rescued after a police operation that left four suspected kidnappers dead and a senior police officer injured.
Nusrat Osman, 47, was freed on Thursday during an operation on the outskirts of Blantyre, Malawi’s second-largest city, according to the Malawi Police Service.
Police said officers exchanged gunfire with the suspected kidnappers, who were reportedly armed with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol. The four suspects were later taken to hospital, where they died from their injuries.
“The criminals got shot and were rushed to the hospital where they succumbed to the injuries,” the Malawi Police Service said in a statement.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira, who took part in the operation, was also wounded during the exchange. Police said he sustained gunshot injuries but remained in a stable condition while receiving treatment.
Following her rescue, Osman was reunited with her family and taken to hospital for medical care, including physical and mental health assessments, according to local media reports.
Her younger brother, Shobi Jiwa, praised the Malawian authorities for securing her release, describing the police response as a major effort to bring his sister home safely. He also paid tribute to Kayira, calling the injured police chief the family’s “hero” for risking his life during the operation.
Osman, who is originally from Leicester in the United Kingdom, has lived in Malawi for several years and works for an auditing firm. She is married and has two young children.
She was abducted on 11 September in Blantyre’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Police said she had been driving home when four unidentified men blocked her vehicle, forced her into another car and drove away.
The kidnapping triggered a major search operation, with authorities offering a reward of 30 million Malawian kwacha for information that could lead to her rescue and the arrest of those responsible.
The case had drawn attention because investigators said there had been no known ransom demand or communication from the kidnappers after her disappearance.
The UK Foreign Office had earlier confirmed it was aware of reports involving a British national being abducted in Malawi and said it was in contact with local authorities.
Police have not identified the four suspects killed in the operation or disclosed how officers tracked them down. Authorities have also not revealed a possible motive or whether more people were involved.
Investigations are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and the rescue operation.
