Weeks after Deputy Inspector General of Police Noel Kayira was reportedly shot during an operation to rescue abducted British national Nusrat Osman in Blantyre, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the incident, the number of suspects killed and what exactly unfolded during the mission.
Although police confirmed that Kayira sustained gunshot injuries during the September 17 operation, the absence of a detailed public account has fuelled speculation, with some critics demanding evidence to establish what happened.
Osman’s brother, Shobi Jiwa, praised Kayira for his alleged role in the rescue, saying the deputy police chief had taken a bullet while helping save his sister.
“We are deeply grateful to Noel Kayira, Deputy Inspector General of the Malawi Police, who took a bullet to his body and bravely saved our sister Nusrat,” Jiwa told Nation Online.
Inspector General of Police Richard Luhanga also confirmed that Kayira had been shot in the stomach during the operation, according to a September 19 report by Malawi24.
Kayira was admitted to Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre, where he received treatment.
Reports published on September 22 indicated that he had been moved out of intensive care and was recovering in a general ward.
However, his reported recovery has not ended public debate about the shooting, with some questioning the circumstances surrounding his injuries and demanding a clearer account from the police.
Among the claims circulating in public discussions is speculation that Kayira may not have been shot by a gun, but could have inflicted the injuries on himself after realising that the reported killing of four suspects would attract negative international attention.
Some have further drawn comparisons with the controversial Area 49 shooting in Lilongwe, suggesting a possible connection between the two incidents.
The questions have nevertheless intensified calls for an independently verifiable account of the operation, including the circumstances in which Kayira was wounded, the nature of his injuries and the evidence supporting the police account.
Conflicting accounts over number of victims
Another major question concerns the number of suspected kidnappers who died during the operation.
Initial police communications reported that four suspects had been killed during the rescue mission.
However, subsequent statements by Luhanga indicated that two suspects had died, while six others remained at large.
The two deceased suspects were identified as Marcolino Munguambe, 43, a Mozambican national, and Limbani Anthony, 44, from Mangochi. Police said two rifles had been recovered from the suspects.
The discrepancy attracted attention beyond Malawi.
The Associated Press also reported that police had initially announced four deaths before Luhanga clarified that two suspects had been killed, with no explanation given for the change at the time.
Further claims circulating about the incident allege that four people were victims of the operation and that the bodies of two individuals of Asian origin were collected on the same night.
A detailed account identifying the deceased, explaining the difference between the initial and subsequent casualty figures, and clarifying the circumstances in which the bodies were recovered would help address the questions.
The importance of such clarification extends beyond the shooting involving Kayira. The operation resulted in the deaths of suspects during a police mission, making transparency about the use of lethal force a matter of public interest.
Police leadership wrangles
The unanswered questions surrounding the shooting have also emerged amid reports of tensions and possible succession manoeuvres within the Malawi Police Service leadership.
Kayira is the Deputy Inspector General responsible for operations, while Evalista Mvula Chisale is responsible for administration.
Richard Luhanga currently serves as Inspector General of Police, according to the police service’s official website.
A September report by Malawi Observer alleged that Kayira was facing pressure amid reported competition for the Inspector General’s position.
The allegations have added to public discussion about possible power struggles within the police command.
Chisale has also emerged as a potential contender in discussions about the future leadership of the service.
Her supporters point to her maturity and leadership experience as qualities that could strengthen her prospects should the position become vacant.
The leadership debate has added another dimension to scrutiny of the service, particularly as questions remain about accountability, the handling of sensitive operations and the relationship between senior officers.
There is, however, no established evidence linking the reported leadership wrangles to Kayira’s injuries. Any suggestion of such a connection would require evidence rather than speculation.
Previous accountability questions
Kayira has also faced scrutiny over a separate fatal shooting in Area 49, Lilongwe, which has featured in public debate about police accountability.
Critics have called for the circumstances surrounding that incident to receive appropriate scrutiny.
However, allegations relating to Area 49 must be examined on their own evidence and should not be used as proof of wrongdoing in the Blantyre rescue operation.
The comparisons being drawn between the two incidents underline the need for credible information, particularly where allegations involve the conduct of senior law enforcement officers.
What happened during the rescue?
Osman, 47, was abducted in the Mount Pleasant area of Blantyre on September 11 and rescued six days later during an intelligence-led police operation in the Mpemba area.
Police said the operation involved an exchange of gunfire with suspected kidnappers who were armed with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol. Kayira was reportedly wounded during the confrontation.
Authorities had offered a K30 million reward for information leading to the rescue and the arrest, prosecution and conviction of those responsible.
Luhanga later said information from six informants had helped police locate the place where Osman was being held.
While Osman’s safe return brought relief to her family, the full circumstances surrounding the rescue have continued to attract public attention.
A comprehensive account could clarify the sequence of events, the positions of officers during the exchange of gunfire, the weapons recovered, the identities and number of people killed, and the evidence establishing how Kayira sustained his injuries.
Medical findings and other relevant forensic evidence, where available and lawfully disclosable, could also help answer questions about the reported shooting.
Weeks later, the central question remains: what exactly happened during the operation in which Kayira was reportedly shot?
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