A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in Niger, where at least 49 people died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara Desert.

According to The Independent, the victims, all Nigerien nationals, were returning from a religious festival in neighbouring Mali when their vehicle became stranded near the borders with Algeria and Mali. With no water and no way to repair the truck, the passengers were trapped for days in extreme desert conditions.

Two survivors managed to walk more than 50 kilometres in search of help before alerting authorities. Rescue teams later discovered dozens of bodies around the immobilised vehicle.

Officials described the recovery operation as emotionally draining, with victims buried in mass graves. Authorities are still investigating what caused the breakdown.

Mozambique is mourning the death of Catholic Bishop Osorio Citora Afonso, who was shot dead at his residence in the city of Quelimane under what church leaders described as mysterious circumstances.

According to The PUNCH, citing AFP, the 54-year-old bishop was found with a gunshot wound to the chest on Saturday. Police have opened an investigation but say it is too early to determine a motive.

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo described the killing as an “irreparable loss” to the nation. The Episcopal Conference of Mozambique also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the bishop’s death.

Afonso, who previously served in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy and Maputo, was transferred to the Diocese of Quelimane by Pope Leo XIV in 2025.

Nigeria’s plan to shake up its telecom industry with dozens of new operators is facing a reality check. According to TechCabal, although the Nigerian Communications Commission licensed 46 Mobile Virtual Network Operators to challenge MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile, only a handful have made meaningful progress.

The biggest hurdle? Money, infrastructure and customer trust. MVNOs lease network capacity from existing operators rather than owning towers, but experts say building billing systems, customer support platforms and distribution networks still costs billions of naira.

Industry leaders told TechCabal that many entrants underestimated the investment required, while consumers remain reluctant to switch providers. With MTN and Airtel controlling over 86 per cent of subscribers, breaking into the market remains a tough task for new challengers.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria has pushed back against claims that its recent nationwide prayer programme was organised by Pastor Enoch Adeboye or the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

As The PUNCH reports, PFN described the allegations as false and misleading, insisting the initiative was conceived, directed and executed entirely by the fellowship.

PFN National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, said RCCG merely participated as a member church and had no role in planning or directing the exercise. He also clarified that gatherings held on the final day coincided with Pentecost Sunday, a global Christian observance celebrated across denominations.

The fellowship said it shelved plans for public processions on security grounds and declared the programme a success, urging Nigerians to reject misinformation and support peace, unity and national progress.

A retired Major General, Abubakar Rabe, and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, have pleaded for urgent rescue after spending one week in captivity in Katsina State.

According to Daily Post, the couple made the appeal in a four-minute video released by their abductors and circulated on social media on Saturday.

In the clip, the captors demanded the release of three detained persons — Sani, Aminu and Nasiru — as well as the return of seized livestock. No cash ransom was mentioned.

Rabe, his wife and their driver were abducted last Saturday near Zakin Baure village on the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road.

Security agencies and the Katsina State Government had yet to react as of press time.

MTN Nigeria has pushed back against claims that it unfairly deducts customers’ data, insisting that rapid data depletion is largely driven by how subscribers use their devices and online services.

According to TheCable, MTN engineers explained that activities such as streaming high-definition videos, scrolling through TikTok, Facebook Reels and YouTube Shorts, hotspot sharing, cloud backups and automatic software updates can quickly consume data.

The telecom giant said faster 4G and 5G networks also encourage higher usage because they deliver richer content at greater speeds. MTN noted that many social media apps preload videos in the background, meaning data may be consumed even before users actively watch content.

The company urged subscribers to monitor usage through the MyMTN app and adjust device settings to better manage consumption.