E/CN.4/2001/66 page 162 over his thighs) and falanga (beating on the soles of the feet). He reportedly later complained to the police inspector about the torture to which he had reportedly been subjected, and was provided with some painkillers and told to soak his feet in warm saline water. 822. By letter dated 23 October 2000, the Special Rapporteur reminded the Government of a number of cases transmitted in 1997, 1998 and 1999 regarding which no reply had been received. Observations 823. The consistency of the reports reaching the Special Rapporteur over the years is highly suggestive of a generalized problem of torture and ill-treatment at the hands of law enforcement officials, which the Government is strongly urged to address as a matter of priority. Niger 824. By letter dated 8 November 2000, the Special Rapporteur reminded the Government of a number of cases transmitted in 1997 regarding which no reply had been received. Nigeria 825. By letter dated 5 October 2000, the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information on the following individual cases. 826. Bello Garki Zangebi is reported to have had his right hand amputated at the wrist at the Talata-Mafara State hospital on 22 March 2000. It is unclear whether the alleged amputation took place inside the hospital or in the hospital grounds in front of a crowd. It is believed he had been convicted by a shariah court a month earlier. This was said to be the first punishment carried out under the shariah penal code, which was reportedly adopted by the Zamfa State in January 2000. 827. Niran Malaoulu, editor of the Diet Newspaper, was reportedly arrested on 28 December 1997. It is alleged that following his conviction for “information gathering” he is serving a 15-year sentence at Katsina prison, in northern Nigeria. In October 1998 he was suffering from typhoid and an acute eye infection, for which it is alleged he was refused medical treatment by the authorities. 828. By letter dated 23 October 2000, the Special Rapporteur reminded the Government of a number of cases transmitted in 1998 regarding which no reply had been received. Urgent appeals 829. On 18 April 2000, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, on behalf of Pastor Monday Gbonade, Saturday Namon, Sunday Namon, Stephen Oomil, Friday Tenalo, Pastor Deebari Zortee and Lucky Zorgbaa, all residents of K-Dere village in Ogoniland, south-east Nigeria. They