Banditry in Niger State: Police say nine bodies were recovered on the Wawa-Lumma road in Borgu LGA, after suspected bandit killings of travellers; police and military teams evacuated the remains and intensified clearance operations. Football shock in Katsina: Katsina United insists defender Chinedu Ozor did not “come back to life” after being pronounced dead following a collapse in a pre-season friendly; the club says reports of movement in the mortuary are false, while Ozor remains in intensive care. Security ties: Algeria has delivered four military helicopters and equipment to Niger as both countries deepen cooperation against jihadist violence and cross-border crime. Regional travel ease: From Jan 1, 2027, Nigerians will enter Chad and the Republic of the Congo visa-free, as both states remove entry visa requirements for African nationals. ECOWAS support for startups: ECOWAS opened applications for its $65,000 Startup Awards (60 startups across six sectors), with Nigerian entrepreneurs eligible until Aug 31. Climate pressure: New data says nearly 900 million people in Sahel and beyond faced the hottest July on record, worsening drought and wildfire risks.