Sahara Tragedy: Nearly 50 Nigeriens died of thirst after a truck broke down in remote northern Niger while returning from Mali for Eid al-Adha; survivors trekked over 30–50 km to reach help, and rescuers later found 49 bodies near the disabled vehicle. Kidnapping Crackdown (Kaduna): Kaduna police rescued three victims held for more than 40 days and arrested five suspected informants, saying the bandits fled when security teams closed in; the victims were treated at a police clinic before reuniting with families. Security Debate (Nigeria): Opposition leader Peter Obi renewed criticism of Nigeria’s “reactive” security approach after reports of Tinubu approving 1,000 forest guards for Oyo, arguing for a coordinated national framework and questioning whether similar steps will cover all states. Regional Energy Moves: Algeria has started work on its stretch of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline linking Nigeria through Niger to Algeria, aiming to supply up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually to Europe. Public Health Watch: Ahead of the World Cup, US and global health officials warn that cuts to disease monitoring could leave travelers and host cities more exposed to outbreaks.