Officials of the Niger State government also said it was regrettable that the reopening came even after intelligence showed increased threats in parts of Niger North.

The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Abubakar Usman , said the school proceeded to resume academic activities without informing the government or seeking clearance, ignoring a directive that had earlier suspended all construction activities and ordered boarding schools to shut their doors temporarily along the affected corridor.

But the  defiant restart was met by violence in the early hours of Friday. Gunmen were said to have attacked  the school compound at about 2am and made away with about 53 ststudents. The full complement of those taken remains unclear as relatives and villagers try to piece together what happened in the darkness.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command has disclosed in a statement made available to journalists on Monday that  its units have been moving fast.

According to the command, police tactical teams and military components are “combing the forests” with a view to rescuing the abducted students unhurt. Security operatives deployed to the area include tactical police teams, military units and other security agents tasked with following up leads into the nearby bush.

The statement reads in part, “In view of this, the Commissioner of Police,  Niger State Command, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman reiterated the Command’s commitment to rescue the students unhurt and appealed to members of the public to remain calm and support security operations to rescue the students.”

The police  also made clear that investigators will not stop at rescuing pupils. “He further assured that this incident will be investigated and necessary action will be taken against the school management for continuing academic activities, contrary to the State government directive on closure of schools in the area due to security challenges.” That warning signals possible sanctions against the school’s leadership for reopening without clearance.

Local residents also described chaotic scenes at dawn: parents in disbelief, security patrols raking through bush tracks, and community leaders frantically relaying tips to authorities. In nearby communities, fear has hardened into anger — many say the order to suspend boarding activities was issued for a reason, and they want answers about why St. Mary’s resumed classes.Security sources say the search is concentrated on footpaths, riverine corridors and known hideouts used by raiding parties in the region. The combined police and military presence aims first to locate and recover the students alive, then to secure the school compound and restore confidence among terrified parents.

The state government has called for calm while promising transparency and action. For now, grieving families wait for news, and the investigation — both into the abduction and into the circumstances that allowed the school to reopen — is ongoing.