E/CN.4/1992/17 page 57 described as "totally unfounded" reports alleging that political activists opposing the Government were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in detention. All prisoners enjoyed rights such as regular visits by their families and medical treatment. Niger Letters 165. On 17 April 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent the Government of Niger a letter transmitting information according to which several individuals» including Abdoulhatif Mohamed, chief of personnel at the Tidekelt Corporation, Mohamed Ahmoudou, a teacher at Agaba High School in Tahoua and Taher Abdoulmoumine, a student at Tahoua High School, were allegedly arrested on 8 May 1990 and tortured at the Tahoua barracks. These persons were among 380 members of the Touareg ethnic group held in the Tahoua barracks, where cases of torture have been reported in the past. Subsequently, the above-mentioned persons, together with other detainees, were allegedly transferred to the Mobile Brigade at Niamey. Nigeria Urgent appeals and Government replies 166. On 28 June 1991 the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal to the Government of Nigeria concerning several dozen students and a number of lawyers and journalists who were detained on or around 7 June 1991. The following names and details were given: Mallam Mahmud Abdul Antin, president of the Students' Union at the Benin University; Edokpolor Ighodalo, Rafael Rafindadi and Christian Omasoke, students at the Benin University; Aiyegbus Rufus and Oyedele Oyekola (Ilorin University) Koyode Ogundamisi (Jos University); Bamidele Aturu and Kola Odetola (Obefemi Awolowo University); Bamidele Opeyemi and Bola Aidi Tajudeen (Lagos Law School): Bunmi Olusona dn Biodun Ogunyemi (Ibadan University); Biodun Ajiboye and Olaitan Oyerinde (Lagos University); Yinka Orokoto, a lawyer from Lagos; Biodun Aremu, employee at the "National Population Commission"; and six employees of the Guardian newspaper, arrested following the closure of the newspaper on 29 May 1991: Bayo Oguntimehin (editor), Taiwo Akerele, Tunde Sulaimon and Ben Akparanta (reporters) and Bolaji Ogunye and Dam Enume (assistants). It was reported that the above-mentioned persons, as well as others detained following widespread student demonstrations, were being held incommunicado in various detention centres of the State Security Service, without charge or trial and with no access to their lawyers. It was alleged that the conditions of detention in such centres were poor and that detainees were denied adequate food and medical care. It was further alleged that several students had been subjected to torture in order to force them to sign statements implicating journalists, lawyers and human rights activists in the recent disturbances. 167. On 11 December 1991 the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that the arrested students and journalists had been tried in court and subsequently discharged. At no time during the course of their brief stay in police custody had any of them been forced or unduly influenced to make a statement to police and none of them had been tortured or denied access to his lawyer. They had all been released and their cases closed.