A South African lawyer, Thubelihle Sbonakaliso Mpisi, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Mahlako Malebo Rabalao, whose burnt remains were discovered inside her Mercedes-Benz in Midrand, Johannesburg, in March 2023.

The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg found Mpisi guilty of murder, malicious injury to property, and defeating the administration of justice.

Prosecutors proved that Rabalao had been killed before her body and vehicle were set ablaze in an attempt to destroy evidence and conceal the crime.

Rabalao, a 26-year-old IT specialist and mother of a three-year-old boy, had reportedly informed family and friends of her plans to end the relationship and move out of the apartment she shared with Mpisi before her death.

Investigators relied on cellphone records, forensic evidence, expert testimony, and Mpisi’s actions before and after the incident to secure a conviction.

He was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal after a four-month investigation and has remained in custody since July 2023.

Before his arrest, Mpisi publicly mourned Rabalao on social media, expressing shock and grief over her death.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the crime.

A woman was rescued on Tuesday after she reportedly jumped into the Lagos Lagoon from the Idumota section of the Carter Bridge in what was believed to be an attempt to take her own life.

The incident, which happened on the afternoon of August 4, attracted the attention of commuters, pedestrians and boat operators in the area, who quickly responded to rescue her.

Eyewitnesses said the woman plunged into the lagoon before nearby boat operators moved towards her and successfully brought her out of the water alive.

A video circulating online captured the moment the woman, appearing distressed and confused, was seated inside a rescue boat shortly after she was pulled from the lagoon.

During the rescue operation, a crowd gathered on the bridge, with some bystanders appealing to the boat operator not to immediately hand the woman over to the police.

Some members of the public were also heard expressing concern about her emotional condition while questioning the circumstances that may have led to the incident.

The development has renewed discussions on the importance of mental health awareness, emotional support systems and the need for early intervention for individuals experiencing psychological distress.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, and details about the woman’s identity and current condition remain unknown.

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction of three newly passed-out military recruits along the Anka/Bukuyum Road in Zamfara State.

The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, ANIPR, ANISMA.

According to the statement, the suspects, identified as Abubakar Mallan Abubakar of Gargam Village, Bagega, Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and Usman Muhammadu of Ajera, Ilorin, Kwara State, were arrested on August 1 at about 6:15 a.m. during a targeted operation based on credible intelligence.

The police said preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects made useful disclosures regarding the abduction of the three military recruits, who were kidnapped in July 2026 along the Kwanan Mayanchi–Gurusu axis of Zamfara State.

According to the command, one of the victims, Kabiru Hassan, is from Ribah in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while the other two recruits are from Zuru Local Government Area.

The police confirmed that all three victims have regained their freedom.

The command said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar M. Hadejia, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to identifying, arresting and prosecuting all those connected with the abduction.