Malawi: Four suspects killed during rescue of British woman

Malawi police rescued Nusrat Osman, a 47-year-old British woman, on Thursday, September 17, six days after she was abducted in Blantyre. Four armed suspects were killed during the exchange of gunfire, and a senior police official was injured in the operation.

The rescue took place in the Mpemba-Chadzunda area on the outskirts of Blantyre, according to police reports cited by several media outlets. The suspects were armed with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol. They were shot during the firefight and later died after being transferred to the hospital.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira was also shot. Authorities reported that he was hospitalized in stable condition following the incident.

Nusrat Osman, a mother of two and an auditor in Malawi, was abducted on September 11 around midday in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Blantyre. Four men forced her into a gray vehicle, according to information provided by police at the start of the investigation.

The suspects did not contact the family or make any public ransom demands. The police had offered 30 million kwachas, approximately $17,000, for any information leading to the victim’s recovery and the identification of the perpetrators.

Nusrat Osman was reunited with her family after her release. Police announced on Friday, September 18, that the investigation is ongoing to determine the motive behind the kidnapping and establish the exact responsibilities.