British mum rescued in deadly Malawi shootout by hero cop

A British mum who was kidnapped by four men in Malawi has been rescued in a daring police operation that left her suspected abductors dead.

Mum-of-two Nusrat Osman, 47, was kidnapped in broad daylight by four men who jumped out of a grey Nissan Dualis at around 12:30pm local time last Friday.

Osman, who is originally from Leicester, moved to Malawi several years ago after her husband set up a business there.

Her kidnapping left her family ‘traumatised’ as they said they could think of no reason why she would have been targeted and pleaded with her abductors to let her go.

Authorities said they were not clear of a motive and offered a reward of more than £12,600 to ‘any person who provides credible information that directly leads to the successful rescue of the victim and arrest, prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators'.

Nusrat Osman was kidnapped in broad daylight (Handout)

Thankfully, after almost a week, Osman was rescued on Thursday (17 September) following a major police operation on the outskirts of the southern city of Blantyre.

Officers exchanged gunfire with the suspected kidnappers, who cops said were armed with an AK-47 and a pistol.

The gunfire resulted in the four suspects and a senior police officer being shot.

In a statement to the BBC, the Malawi Police Service said: "The criminals got shot and were rushed to the hospital where they succumbed to the injuries.”

Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira, who was also shot, was rushed to hospital for treatment and is in a stable condition.

Osman was also taken to hospital for treatment and for physical and mental health assessments, local media reported.

She has since been reunited with her delighted family.

In an interview with The Sun, Osman’s younger brother Shobi Jiwa said: “The only thanks that we can give is to the Malawi police, who went out all out in their own investigation.”

He also heaped praise on brave officer Kayira who was shot in the rescue mission.

The mum-of-two was rescued on the outskirts of Blantyre City in Malawi (Getty stock image)

“He is the hero of our family. He’s the hero of the country," he said.

“He’s the hero of the world, actually, for putting his life at risk and taking a bullet into himself for my sister.”

Incredibly, he also shared that despite her ordeal, his sister was ‘not too shaken’ and had been ‘smiling’.

He shared: “She’s a humble soul and a beautiful person.”

In a statement following her rescue, Osman’s family said the officer’s ‘courage, selflessness and dedication to protecting the lives of Malawians will never be forgotten’.

As yet, police have not identified the four suspects or shared a possible motive for the kidnap.

They also haven’t revealed if there are any other people thought to be involved.

The force said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances around the abduction.

In the meantime, authorities urged the public to remain while the investigation continues and said further updates will be provided.

The UK Foreign Office previously said it was aware of the reports of a British national being abducted in Malawi and was in touch with local authorities.