All of Africa Today - July 24, 2026

A Nigerian court has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their roles in the mass kidnapping of students and teachers in Oyo State. Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentences after Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani pleaded guilty to charges related to the abductions that occurred in May.

The three men admitted to concealing information about those responsible for the kidnappings and confirmed their membership in a Boko Haram affiliate. While they pleaded guilty to specific charges, they denied any conspiracy in the abductions themselves. The convictions come as a significant development in the ongoing struggle against armed groups that increasingly target schools and other soft targets for ransom.

This sentencing follows closely on the heels of a successful rescue operation by security forces, who freed 44 abducted pupils and teachers. Mass kidnappings for ransom have become a pervasive problem in Nigeria, with armed groups frequently demanding large sums for the release of captives. These groups often target vulnerable locations like schools, churches, and remote villages, causing widespread fear and disruption.

In separate legal news from the continent, former Migori Governor Okoth Obado of Kenya has been found guilty of murdering university student Sharon Otieno in 2018. A Kenyan court determined that Obado orchestrated the killing of Otieno, who was pregnant with his child at the time. His former personal assistant and a county clerk were also implicated in carrying out and concealing the crime. The murder had sparked significant public outrage and renewed focus on gender-based violence in Kenya.

Meanwhile, South Africa has rejected a petition filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) by two Ghanaian nationals seeking an investigation into attacks on foreign migrants. The South African government argued that its domestic legal system is capable of handling such cases and dismissed the petition as "opportunistic." The petition had alleged that the violence could constitute crimes against humanity and accused the government of failing to prevent and punish perpetrators. Recent anti-migrant protests have led to thousands of foreign nationals leaving the country, drawing condemnation from several African governments and the ECOWAS bloc. South Africa maintains it is not xenophobic and is committed to the rule of law, while also calling for broader African Union discussions on migration causes.

In Uganda, the main opposition party reported that deputy president Muwanga Kivumbi has been missing for 13 days, allegedly taken by armed soldiers.