In the wake of a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) concerning the treatment of Nigeria’s national football team in Libya, there have been reports of mass arrests and fines targeting Nigerians living in the country.
The Super Eagles were detained at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours upon their arrival for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya’s national team. The team was initially scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport and then travel nearly four hours by road to Benina, the match venue. However, less than an hour before landing, Libyan authorities directed the Tunisian pilot to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, located 150 miles away from the intended destination.
This incident led to widespread outrage, prompting the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to withdraw the Super Eagles from the qualifying match and file an official complaint to CAF. In a ruling issued on October 26, CAF awarded Nigeria three points and three goals for the abandoned match, citing that the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) had breached multiple regulations. The LFF was also fined $50,000, which must be paid within 60 days.
Dissatisfied with the decision, LFF President Nasser Al-Suwai’i labeled the ruling as “unjust and malicious,” alleging that the NFF’s influence at CAF significantly influenced the outcome. He announced plans to file an official appeal, indicating that if this appeal was denied, the LFF would approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport to protect their interests.
Anti-Nigerian Sentiment Intensifies
Following CAF’s ruling, a popular Libyan news blog, Libya News Today 1, reported that Libyan media outlets were calling for the arrest of Nigerian workers residing in Libya without proper documentation. The blog stated, “They have to pay $500 plus taxes. The fine that Libya is accused of will be paid by Nigerian citizens who live in Libya. We have been subjected to injustice.”
The post featured a video of a Libyan TV presenter urging the government to arrest Nigerians working illegally and emphasized that anyone found without legal status should pay a fine of $500 to regularize their residency.
Another outlet, Libya INF.TV, echoed these sentiments, stating that those without Libyan documentation would be subjected to fines and potential deportation. The message was clear: Nigerian workers were being scapegoated for the LFF’s penalties.
Reports of Mass Arrests
Nigerians in Libya reported that arrests began shortly after the CAF announcement. Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian resident in Tripoli, stated that individuals were apprehended in his area soon after the news broke. “They have already started. The news came out on Saturday, and they were saying they can’t accept it,” he said, noting that Libyans felt justified in retaliating against Nigerians.
Peter Omoregbie, president of the Nigerian community in Libya, confirmed that arrests were taking place indiscriminately. “They are arresting innocent people. They don’t even care whether you have passports or residence permits,” he reported, highlighting the fear and uncertainty within the Nigerian community.
As arrests continued to escalate, another Nigerian, Omo Oba Legba, shared a concerning message from a local policeman warning him to stay indoors due to the ongoing roundups. He urged the Nigerian government to intervene, stressing that the repercussions of the CAF ruling were adversely affecting ordinary Nigerians in Libya.
Calls for Caution and Investigation
In response to the unfolding situation, the Chairman of Libya’s National Institution for Human Rights, Ahmed Hamza, cautioned against any retaliatory actions targeting Nigerian workers, urging restraint from security forces and citizens alike. He emphasized the need to avoid actions that could exacerbate tensions and lead to potential legal ramifications.
Meanwhile, attempts to reach the Libyan Embassy in Abuja for comments went unanswered, and inquiries directed at the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli yielded no response. The Nigerian government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the situation, but further details were not provided.
Former Nigerian ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode urged the government to investigate the retaliatory arrests and consider reporting Libya to the African Union. He advised Nigerians in Libya to maintain a low profile and, if necessary, leave the country until the situation stabilizes.
As tensions rise and the fate of many Nigerians hangs in the balance, the call for international attention and intervention becomes increasingly urgent.
