Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
At least 24 bandits were killed on Tuesday after soldiers of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), Katsina Community Watch Corps foiled an attempt to mass-kidnap persons in Gidan Bawa village, Kandarawa Ward, Bakori Local Government Area of the state.
According to a security source, the operation followed sustained intelligence which uncovered plans by about 40 gunmen loyal to notorious bandit kingpin, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, to invade the village and abduct many residents, especially women and children.
The plot, sources said, was intended to replicate the mass abduction of residents of Woro community in Kwara State, ostensibly to embarrass the government.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, DSS operatives mobilised the Community Watch Corps, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) from Guga camp, and ambushed the bandits.
The source disclosed that the joint security operatives neutralised 24 bandits and rescued the abducted villagers.
Security operatives also recovered 19 stolen cattle from the community during the raid.
The source added that there were ongoing efforts to track down the fleeing bandits.
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Tinubu’s new tax break sparks $50bn offshore rush
Favour Ishember, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu just signed the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Project Incentives (Tax Remission) Executive Order 2026 which is designed to do two big things at once: pull in up to $50 billion in fresh capital and add roughly one million barrels per day of crude and condensate from Nigeria’s deepwater fields.
Speaking Tuesday on NTA with Cyril Stober, Engineer Enorense Amadasu, Executive Commissioner for Development and Production at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, represented the Commission Chief Executive.
Amadasu said the order sets up a clear, rules-based investment structure built for the next wave of deep offshore projects. The goal is to cut red tape so international oil companies can move from plan to payout faster.
Right now Nigeria produces about 1.7 million barrels per day of crude and condensate. Deep offshore still plays a smaller role: around 24% of total oil output and 19% of gas.
Amadasu credited the President for steering the sector forward.
“We are on the right path all thanks to Mr. President. It will be a huge leap. As of today, we have mined over 4.6 billion barrels from deep offshore assets. In cargo terms that is over 5,000 tankers,” he said.
He added that the new framework now opens more room for growth in deepwater.
The volumes won’t appear from nowhere. Nine projects already have Field Development Plans worth billions approved by NUPRC. The next milestone is Final Investment Decision, and the EO is meant to speed that up.
“So, where will these volumes be coming from? Nine of these projects have approved FDPs so the next step expected is the FID in the near to midterm. The $10bn Bonga South will come in 2027 and within the next four to five years, we are expecting almost an additional one million barrels additional per day,” Amadasu stated.
The order isn’t just about wells. Amadasu pointed to the wider marine economy. To handle the coming surge, Nigeria will need to expand its logistics and marine base to support deepwater operations.
The broader ambition: position Nigeria as the go-to regional center for deep offshore projects in West Africa.
According to the Executive Commissioner, the incentives also deliver: Bigger reserves;:more oil and gas booked for the future,Technology and skills transfer, new expertise coming into local teams .New jobs, employment across drilling, services, and support industries.
A tatement issued by Eniola Akinkuotu Head, Media and Corporate Comm, said, the 2026 EO ties tax relief to tangible output, with $50bn in investment, 1 million bpd more production, nine shovel-ready projects, and a push to make Nigeria’s deepwater the hub for the region.
