Following a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in favor of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) against Libya, Nigerians in Libya are reportedly facing mass arrests and fines. This development comes after Nigeria filed an official complaint regarding the treatment of its national football team, the Super Eagles, upon arrival in Libya for an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier.
The Super Eagles were held at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours, following a sudden directive for their flight to divert from Benghazi, where they were set to play against the Libyan national team. The NFF, citing the incident as unjust, withdrew the Super Eagles from the match and lodged a complaint with CAF, which ultimately ruled in Nigeria’s favor, awarding the Super Eagles three points and imposing a $50,000 fine on the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) for violating CAF regulations.
Libyan authorities and some media outlets in Libya have since launched a campaign, reportedly targeting Nigerian residents. According to the Libyan news blog Libya News Today 1, citizens are being encouraged to urge the government to arrest Nigerian workers without legal documents and impose a $500 tax on them. Libyan social media and TV hosts have also suggested that the fine imposed by CAF should be covered through fines on Nigerians residing in Libya.
Reports indicate that arrests began soon after the CAF decision was publicized. Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian resident in Tripoli, confirmed that detainments commenced on Sunday, with Nigerian nationals being apprehended indiscriminately in certain areas of the capital. The President of the Nigerian community in Libya, Peter Omoregbie, confirmed the arrests in a video, stating that individuals are being detained regardless of whether they possess proper documentation.
Another Nigerian in Libya, Omo Oba Legba, shared that the situation has escalated to a point where even those holding Libyan passports are being targeted. In a Facebook post, he warned fellow Nigerians in Libya to avoid public spaces, fearing further arrests.
The situation has drawn concern from Libya’s National Institution for Human Rights, with Chairman Ahmed Hamza warning against retaliatory measures against Nigerian workers. Hamza condemned the rhetoric from media platforms encouraging hostility towards Nigerians, urging security forces and armed groups to avoid such actions, as they could result in legal repercussions both domestically and internationally.
Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities are under pressure to respond to the escalating crisis. A representative from the Libyan Embassy in Nigeria, responding to an inquiry from Sunday PUNCH, declined to comment officially. Both the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission have yet to release statements. However, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the ministry is seeking information from its African Affairs department.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, urged the Nigerian government to escalate the issue to the African Union if the reports of mistreatment are substantiated. He also advised Nigerians in Libya to maintain a low profile until the situation stabilizes, adding that those in peril should consider leaving Libya temporarily.
As tensions rise, international organizations and rights groups are being called upon to monitor the situation closely, with hopes that diplomatic intervention will prevent further retaliation against Nigerians in Libya.
