British woman rescued after shoot-out between Malawi police and kidnappers

A British woman who was abducted in Malawi has been rescued and reunited with her family after a shoot-out between officers and the kidnappers, police said.

Nusrat Osman, 47, was abducted at around 12.30pm in the southern city of Blantyre on Friday, when she was bundled into a grey Nissan Dualis.

The mother-of-two, who reportedly works for a local auditing firm but was originally from Leicester, was rescued on Thursday by officers who shot two of the kidnappers, who later died in hospital.

Police initially said that four suspects were killed in the operation, but later revised their statement. They are still searching for two other suspects.

A police chief was also wounded in the operation, the Malawi Police Service (MPS) said.

After snatching her, the suspects had not contacted Ms Osman's family or authorities and the motive was not clear.

The MPS was offering a reward of 30m Malawi Kwacha - which is around £12,800 - to anyone giving them "credible information" that could help with the rescue operation and arrests.

The Malawi police announced Ms Osman had been rescued in Mpemba/Chadzunda, just outside of Blantyre, during an "intelligence led police operation".

It said there was a shoot-out between police and the kidnappers who were armed with an "AK47 rifle and a Girsan MC pistol". Two suspects died after the gunfight.

During the same operation, Dr Mlowoka Noel Kayira, deputy inspector general at MPS, suffered gunshot wounds and is in hospital in a stable condition.

Ms Osman's brother, Shobi Jiwa, told Malawi news outlet Nation Online she was rescued in an operation in which the deputy inspector general was shot and wounded.

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Atupele Muluzi, a MP for the nearby Machinga region who is from Blantyre, commended the police for the rescue.

He wrote on Facebook: "It is with great relief and gratitude that I share the news. It is understood that the rescue operation was extremely dangerous

"The family has expressed profound appreciation for the professionalism, dedication, and incredible bravery of the Malawi Police Service throughout this ordeal, particularly deputy inspector general of police, Dr Noel Kayira.

"This is a welcome outcome and a reminder of the importance of the dedicated men and women who serve and protect our communities."

Police said investigations are ongoing and more details will be provided about the suspects.

So far, no information has been released on the motive for the abduction.

(c) Sky News 2026: British woman rescued after shoot-out between Malawi police and kidnappers