President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Defence Headquarters to release some members of Boko Haram in custody in connection with terrorist activities.

Already the directive to release the detainees has been communicated to all the units of the Joint Military Task Force.  Both the Presidency and the Defence Headquarters confirmed this yesterday. Special Adviser to the President, Reuben Abati said the directive was evidence of federal government’s multi-dimensional approach to tackling the security challenge in some parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has announced that it would release some persons detained in connection with terrorist activities. Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, said the decision to release the suspected terrorists was based on the directives of President Jonathan who last Tuesday declared state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe on May 14. He said the move was in furtherance of the federal government’s position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founder member of the 1960s rock band The Doors, has died aged 74.  He formed the band with lead singer Jim Morrison in 1965 after a chance meeting in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. Manzarek, who had suffered from bile duct cancer for many years, died in a clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, with his wife and brothers at his bedside.

The Doors found fame in the 1960s with hits such as The End, Break on Through to the Other Side andHello I Love You.

The White House says United States President Barack Obama will visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania in June. President Obama is expected to meet lawmakers as well as business and civil society leaders and youth on his trip. The visit, from 26 June - 3 July, will be President Obama's second to sub-Saharan Africa as president. He spent less than a day in Ghana in 2009. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush both visited Africa during their second terms in office. Mr Clinton visited six countries while Mr Bush went to five.