Israel’s Civil Defence Agency has ordered the closure of all schools in the northern part of the country following renewed rocket fire from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, as cross-border violence between the two sides continues to escalate.

The directive was issued by the military’s Home Front Command on Sunday, announcing that all educational institutions and activities in the northern region would remain closed until at least Monday at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT). The decision follows a series of rocket attacks from Lebanon, which have heightened tensions and triggered fears of a broader conflict.

The closure affects thousands of students, as authorities scramble to ensure the safety of residents in the region amid the growing volatility along Israel’s northern border. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have responded to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks with counter-strikes, but the situation remains tense with no immediate signs of de-escalation.

Local officials urged citizens to remain vigilant and adhere to the guidelines provided by the civil defence authorities, as both sides brace for further hostilities.

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Waheed Ayilara, has died.

Ayilara passed away in the early hours of Thursday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, following a prostate cancer surgery on Wednesday.

Sources close to the family disclosed that Ayilara’s health deteriorated after the surgery, leading to his untimely death just hours later.

“We are very sad to inform you that our friend, brother, and family member, the Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom State, Waheed Ayilara, is dead,” a family source said.

A senior police officer in Akwa Ibom State, who preferred to remain anonymous as he was not authorized to speak on the matter, also confirmed Ayilara’s death.

According to Channels Television, when contacted for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, ASP Timfon John, stated that “the command cannot make any comment until an official statement by the family is received.”

Ayilara was appointed as the Acting Commissioner of Police in Lagos in November 2023 while still a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

He took over from AIG Idowu Owohunwa as the head of the State Criminal Investigation Department before being deployed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to lead the Akwa Ibom State Command in February 2024.

A major flood has severed the Potiskum-Gashua federal road in Yobe State, cutting off six local government areas in northern Yobe from accessing Damaturu, the state capital.

The flooding, which occurred on Tuesday, August 28, 2024, was triggered by a heavy flow of water from the Jama’are River in Bauchi State.

The affected local government areas include Jakusko, Bade, Karasuwa, Nguru, Yusufari, and Machina.

As a result, residents are now forced to take alternative routes through the Bayamari-Dapchi road, which is plagued by a poor road network, or detour through Hadejia in Jigawa State.

Samaila Musa, Chairman of Nangere Local Government Area, who visited the site of the flood damage, expressed concerns over the impact on the local economy, particularly on agricultural and commercial activities.

“I visited the road that was cut off, and it has already started affecting our economic and agricultural activities, especially those that will be coming to the livestock market in Potiskum. I am on my way to meet the Deputy Governor and inform him of the situation,” said Musa.

The incident has severely disrupted travel and the movement of goods, particularly affecting those commuting to the Potiskum livestock market, one of the region’s key economic hubs.

Efforts to reach the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone number was not reachable.

Local engineers have called on the federal government to construct a mini bridge in the affected area to prevent the annual washing away of the road by floodwaters, a recurring problem that disrupts connectivity and economic activities in the region.

The current situation underscores the urgent need for infrastructural improvements to mitigate the impacts of seasonal flooding on essential road networks in Yobe State.