STANDOFF IN NIGER: HEAVY SECURITY STORM ST. MARY’S SCHOOL AS RACE TO RESCUE ABDUCTED STUDENTS INTENSIFIES

A tense atmosphere has engulfed Niger State as police officers and military operatives have taken over the premises and surrounding areas of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School following the abduction of an unspecified number of students earlier today. The swift deployment of joint security forces marks yet another chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against school kidnappings—an issue that continues to haunt families, communities, and authorities across the northern region.

According to early reports, gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed the school in the early hours, catching staff and students off guard. Witnesses described the attackers as heavily armed and moving with frightening coordination, forcing their way into hostels and classrooms before escaping with several students. Their entry and escape were reportedly timed so quickly that local vigilante groups, often the first responders in remote communities, could do little to intervene.

Within hours, the Nigerian Police Force and the military launched a coordinated response, sealing off major routes in and out of the area and setting up operational bases around the school to prevent further incursions. Residents around the St. Mary’s community say the number of armed personnel deployed is unlike anything they have seen in recent times, with patrol vehicles stationed at strategic points, drones reportedly surveying the area from above, and multiple checkpoints erected to intercept suspicious movements.

Security operatives at the scene refrained from giving detailed statements but hinted that a search-and-rescue mission was already underway. A senior military source disclosed that troops from nearby formations were mobilised immediately after receiving distress signals from the community. He noted that the speed of deployment was aimed at tracking the kidnappers before they could move deep into the forests that serve as hideouts for criminal gangs.

Parents of the missing students rushed to the school upon hearing the news, many of them breaking down in tears as chaos unfolded around the gates. Some screamed the names of their children, others begged for answers, while a few fainted from shock. The emotional weight of the situation deepened as parents recounted how their children left home healthy, excited for the day’s activities, only for them to be taken away by armed men. For many, the trauma reignited painful memories of past attacks on schools across the state.

School authorities, visibly shaken, confirmed the incident but avoided giving specific numbers until they have completed roll calls. A teacher who spoke anonymously said the attack was sudden and terrifying, adding that students were forced to hide in bathrooms, under beds, and in store rooms while the gunmen moved from one block to another. She described hearing desperate screams, frantic footsteps, and gunshots that pierced the early morning silence.

Local community leaders have condemned the attack, calling it “another heartbreaking reminder” that the safety of schoolchildren remains fragile in several parts of the country. They urged the federal government to treat the St. Mary’s abduction as a national emergency and ensure the safe return of the victims without delay. One traditional leader said the community has suffered repeated attacks in the last two years, with many residents displaced or forced to abandon farming activities due to insecurity.

The Niger State Government confirmed receiving reports of the incident and assured residents that everything was being done to secure the release of the abducted students. Officials stated that Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has been briefed and is in constant communication with security agencies leading the operation. The state government also appealed for calm, urging residents not to circulate unverified information that could hinder rescue efforts or cause unnecessary panic.

In recent years, Niger State has experienced an alarming surge in mass abductions, particularly targeting schools. The attack on St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School echoes previous incidents such as the Tegina Islamiyya School kidnapping and the Kagara school abduction, both of which drew national and international attention. Analysts say the recurring nature of the attacks highlights the growing boldness of criminal networks operating in the region, as well as the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of security strategies.

While rescue operations intensify, security analysts warn that the hours immediately following such abductions are crucial. The kidnappers often move quickly through forested terrains, relying on speed and unpredictability to evade capture. That urgency is likely what triggered the immediate deployment of police operatives, military units, and aerial surveillance.

As the night approaches, tension remains high. Parents have refused to leave the school gate, sitting on bare ground and clutching photos of their children as they await any news. Some have demanded to join the search mission, insisting that waiting helplessly is unbearable. Volunteers from nearby communities have also offered to support security forces, although officials insist that untrained civilians should stay clear of active operations for their own safety.

Inside the school grounds, investigators are marking bullet shells, examining broken locks and windows, and gathering testimonies from traumatised students who witnessed the attack. Many of the children who escaped the kidnappers’ grasp remain in shock, unable to speak or stop crying. Counsellors from the local education board have been called in to provide psychological support.

National outrage is beginning to swell, with activists, educators, and public figures calling for decisive action. Critics argue that despite repeated promises to end school kidnappings, the situation remains just as dire, leaving parents afraid to send their children to school. They insist that the government must go beyond reactive deployments and adopt more proactive measures such as fortified school security, robust intelligence networks, and targeted operations against known bandit camps.

As St. Mary’s Private Catholic Secondary School remains under heavy guard, the nation watches with bated breath. The fate of the abducted students remains uncertain, but hope persists that the combined forces of the police and military will close in on the kidnappers and bring the children home safely. For the families waiting anxiously and the community enveloped in grief and fear, each passing minute feels like a lifetime.

The developing situation has once again underscored the vulnerability of educational institutions in remote areas and the ongoing struggle to protect Nigeria’s future generation from the grip of insecurity. Until the missing students are found and reunited with their loved ones, peace will remain elusive at St. Mary’s—and across a nation weary of waking up to yet another heartbreaking attack.