BLANTYRE, Malawi- A British woman kidnapped in Malawi has been rescued during a police operation that left four suspected kidnappers dead and a senior police officer wounded.
Nusrat Osman, 47, was freed on Thursday during an intelligence-led operation in Mpemba, on the outskirts of the southern city of Blantyre, according to the Malawi Police Service.
Police said officers exchanged gunfire with the suspected kidnappers, who were armed with an AK-47 rifle and a Girsan Regard MC pistol.
“The criminals got shot and were rushed to the hospital where they succumbed to the injuries,” police said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police responsible for operations Noel Kayira sustained gunshot wounds during the operation. He was admitted to Mwaiwathu Private Hospital, where police said he was in stable condition.
Osman was also taken to hospital for treatment and physical and mental health assessments following her rescue. She was later reunited with her family.
The four suspected kidnappers had not been publicly identified by Friday.
Osman was abducted on September 11 in Blantyre’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Police said she was driving home when four men blocked her vehicle, forced her into a grey Nissan Dualis and drove away.
Her disappearance prompted an extensive police operation and public appeals from her family.
Authorities offered a reward of 30 million Malawian kwacha—about $17,000 or KSh2.2 million—for credible information leading to her rescue and the arrest, prosecution and conviction of those responsible.
Inspector General of Police Richard Luhanga confirmed Osman’s rescue and said she was safe.
Her brother, Shobi Jiwa, praised Kayira for risking his life during the operation, describing the senior officer as a hero.
Osman, who is originally from Leicester in the United Kingdom, has lived in Malawi for several years. She is married, has two young children and works for an auditing firm.
The motive for the kidnapping remains unclear. Police previously said the abductors had not contacted Osman’s family or authorities and that no known ransom demand had been made.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said during the search that it was aware of the abduction and was in contact with Malawian authorities.
Police have not disclosed how investigators located Osman and her captors.
Investigations are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the abduction and the deadly rescue operation.
