Rescue Comes After Violent Standoff

Nusrat Osman was abducted outside her home in Blantyre on 11 September at about 12.30pm — Police announced her rescue late on Thursday in a statement, confirming an exchange of fire with armed kidnappers. Four of the abductors were killed during the operation.

Details of the Kidnapping and Police Response

Police had offered a reward of 30m Malawi kwacha (£12,950) for information leading to Osman’s rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators; the kidnappers were armed with an AK47 rifle and a Girsan Regard MC pistol, according to the police statement. During the operation, a police officer, deputy inspector general Mlowoka Noel Kayira, was also shot and is receiving medical attention. Police said he is in a stable condition.

Osman Safe, Family Expresses Gratitude

Osman, a 47-year-old auditor and mother of two, was safe and “not too shaken” after her ordeal, her brother Shobi Jiwa told the Sun. Jiwa expressed his gratitude to Malawi’s police, calling Kayira a hero for taking a bullet to save his sister. “He is the hero of our family. He’s the hero of the country,” Jiwa said. “He’s the hero of the world, actually, for putting his life at risk.”

Kidnappings are rare in Malawi, with the country experiencing a rise in pickpocketing and house burglaries by often armed men in recent years. Malawi is one of the world’s poorest nations, with a population of about 22 million and an average annual income of just $672, according to the World Bank.

A 2024 report by the US state department’s diplomatic security service stated that kidnappings are not a widespread concern in Malawi, and there have been no recent high-profile incidents involving westerners. Historically, expatriates have not been significant targets for kidnappings in the country, with incidents often involving members of the Asian business community rather than foreign travellers or residents.

Osman, who is originally from Leicester, worked for a local audit firm and had lived in Malawi with her husband and children for several years. Before her rescue, her family said they had not received any news of her or any contact from the kidnappers demanding a ransom.

Her husband, Nazil Osman, told Nyasa Times: “I don’t know where she is or how she is. My wife is an auditor, and I have no issues with anyone.” Her brother told the Sun on Tuesday: “My sister has been missing for five days with no trace or call,” adding that the family could not think of a motive for her kidnapping.

Police did not say whether information received in response to the offered reward had led to Osman’s rescue. They stated that investigations were ongoing and more details would be shared “in due course.”