A 47-year-old British woman abducted in Malawi has been rescued following a police operation that resulted in the deaths of four suspected kidnappers and left a senior officer injured.
Nusrat Osman was recovered on Thursday on the outskirts of Blantyre, nearly a week after she was reportedly seized in the city’s Mount Pleasant area.
Malawi Police said officers encountered the alleged abductors and exchanged fire with them.
The suspects were reportedly carrying an AK-47 assault rifle and a pistol.
According to authorities, the four men suffered gunshot wounds and later died after being taken to hospital.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira, who took part in the operation, was also struck by gunfire. Officials said he was receiving medical care and remained in stable condition.
Osman was reunited with relatives after being freed. She was subsequently taken to a medical facility for treatment and physical and psychological assessments, according to local reports.
Her younger brother, Shobi Jiwa, expressed gratitude to the Malawian authorities for their efforts to find his sister. He also praised Kayira, calling the injured police commander the family’s “hero” for risking his life during the operation.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the four men killed or explain how investigators tracked them down. The circumstances surrounding their confrontation with police also remain unclear.
Osman, who is originally from Leicester in the United Kingdom, was reportedly driving home on September 11 when four men intercepted her vehicle in Mount Pleasant. The attackers allegedly forced her into another car before fleeing with her.
Her disappearance triggered an extensive search across the southern African nation.
Officials had offered 30 million Malawian kwacha, equivalent to about $17,000 or £12,500, for information that could lead to her recovery and the prosecution of those responsible.
Osman has lived in Malawi for several years and is employed by an auditing company. She is married and has two young children.
The UK Foreign Office previously confirmed that it was aware of reports involving the abduction of a British citizen and had been communicating with Malawian authorities.
The incident had raised questions among investigators because no ransom request or subsequent contact from the perpetrators had been reported.
Osman’s relatives had earlier made emotional appeals for her safe return, while the incident generated concern among members of Malawi’s business sector and British residents in the country.
Police have not yet established a motive or determined whether additional individuals may have participated in the crime.
Investigations are continuing into the abduction and the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s rescue operation.
Authorities have appealed for calm as inquiries proceed.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong