Malawi Freedom Network 
By Malawi Freedom Network
BLANTYRE — Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Mlowoka Kayira was reportedly shot during a police operation that successfully rescued abducted British national Nusrat Jiwa Osman, 47, who had been missing for six days.
Osman was abducted in the Mount Pleasant area of Blantyre last Friday in an incident that triggered an intensive search by the Malawi Police Service.
According to information from Osman’s family and multiple local and international reports, Kayira was wounded by gunfire during the operation to locate and rescue her. He survived the shooting and was receiving medical treatment.
Osman was also taken to Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre following her rescue, where she was undergoing medical assessment after the ordeal. Reports indicate that she was found safe and was in stable condition.
The rescue brings to an end a six-day search for the British national, whose disappearance had generated widespread concern in Malawi and abroad.
Kayira wounded during rescue operation
Details of what happened during the rescue remain limited.
Osman’s brother, Shobi Jiwa, confirmed that Kayira was shot during the operation but said he could not disclose where the shooting occurred or provide details about the people who had been holding his sister.
The exact circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire, including the location of the operation, the number of people involved and whether suspects were arrested, had not been publicly established at the time of reporting.
The Malawi Police Service has yet to release a detailed account of the operation.
The police’s official website identifies Noel Mlowoka Kayira as Deputy Inspector General responsible for Administration, with Stain Chaima serving as Deputy Inspector General responsible for Operations.
Osman found safe after six-day ordeal
Osman, a British national originally from Leicester, was abducted in broad daylight in Mount Pleasant on September 11.
Police had previously reported that four men were believed to have been involved and were allegedly travelling in a grey Nissan Dualis, registration CA 6956. Authorities subsequently offered a K30 million reward for credible information leading to her rescue and the arrest, prosecution and conviction of those responsible.
Her safe recovery has brought relief to her family and the wider community, after days of uncertainty over her whereabouts and wellbeing.
Her brother has expressed gratitude to the police officers involved in the rescue, particularly Kayira, who was wounded during the operation.
Questions remain over the operation
While the successful recovery of Osman has ended the immediate search for the abducted woman, significant questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not yet publicly explained where Osman was located, who was holding her, whether suspects have been arrested, what triggered the shooting, or how Kayira sustained his injuries.
A full police briefing is therefore expected to provide clarity on the operation and the ongoing investigation.
The Malawi Police Service has previously urged members of the public to assist investigations into serious crimes while cautioning against spreading unverified information.
For now, the focus remains on Osman’s recovery and Kayira’s medical condition, while investigators work to establish the full circumstances behind the abduction and the dramatic rescue operation.
