Nusrat Osman, a 47-year-old British auditor, was abducted outside her residence in Blantyre on 11 September at approximately 12:30pm local time. The Malawian police department had established a reward of 30 million kwacha, equivalent to approximately £12,950, for information that would lead to her recovery and the apprehension of those responsible for the kidnapping.
Authorities announced Osman’s rescue late Thursday following an armed confrontation between police and her abductors. During the exchange of gunfire, the suspects, who were armed with an AK47 rifle and a Girsan Regard MC pistol, sustained fatal injuries and were transported to a medical facility where they died. Deputy inspector general Mlowoka Noel Kayira, a police officer involved in the rescue operation, was struck by gunfire but remained in stable condition while receiving hospital care.
Osman, a mother of two originally from Leicester who had resided in Malawi with her husband and children for several years, was reported to be in satisfactory condition following her ordeal. Her brother stated that she was “not too shaken” and expressed appreciation for the police response, particularly commending Kayira’s actions. Prior to her rescue, the family had received no communication from the kidnappers or information regarding Osman’s whereabouts, and no ransom demands had been made.
Kidnappings remain uncommon occurrences in Malawi, a southern African nation facing economic challenges and periodic increases in property crimes. A 2024 assessment by the United States State Department indicated that kidnappings are not prevalent in the country and that Western nationals have historically not been primary targets. The report noted that when abductions do occur, they more frequently involve members of the Asian business community.
Police authorities did not confirm whether the posted reward had contributed to locating Osman, stating that investigations remained ongoing with additional information to be disclosed in subsequent communications.
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