Following the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruling against Libya’s football federation, the Libyan government has initiated a series of mass arrests targeting Nigerians residing in the country.
The action being carried out is reportedly in retaliation for a fine imposed on Libya due to the mistreatment of Nigerian national football team during the recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match. The situation has escalated tensions between Libyan authorities and the Nigerian community, prompting urgent calls for intervention from Nigerian officials and human rights organizations.
On October 26, 2024, CAF ruled in favor of Nigeria after the Super Eagles were detained at Al-Abraq Airport for over 20 hours while en route to a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya. The team was originally scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport but was diverted, leading to their inability to participate in the match. Following an investigation into the incident, CAF found the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) in violation of its regulations and imposed a $50,000 fine on them.
Libya’s football authorities however expressed outrage over the ruling. Nasser Al-Suwai’i, President of the Libyan Football Federation (LFF), described the decision as “unjust and malicious,” alleging that external influences played a role in the outcome. He indicated plans to appeal the ruling, potentially escalating the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Following the CAF verdict, Libyan media outlets began calling for action against Nigerians living in Libya. Reports indicates that Libyan authorities have started arresting both documented and undocumented Nigerians, with many community leaders expressing grave concerns about safety and arbitrary detentions.
Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian resident in Tripoli, confirmed that arrests began shortly after the CAF ruling was publicized. He stated:
“They have already started. The news came out on Saturday, and they were saying they couldn’t accept it and that they were not the ones who would pay the money.”
He reported:
“Someone called me and said they had already begun arresting people in his area. The same thing is happening here in Tripoli.”
Peter Omoregbie, President of the Nigerian community in Libya, echoed Emmanuel’s concerns. He reported that innocent Nigerians are being arrested indiscriminately:
“They are arresting innocent people. They don’t even care whether you have passports or residence permits.”
Omoregbie emphasized that these actions are unjust and urged international bodies to intervene:
“As community leaders, we are helpless. Even the Nigerian Embassy’s hands are sometimes tied.”
He further explained that this situation arose from a dispute involving football authorities rather than any wrongdoing by ordinary Nigerians living in Libya.
The call for mass arrests gained traction on social media platforms, where influential Libyan bloggers and journalists began inciting public sentiment against Nigerians. A popular Libyan news blog stated:
“All Libyan TV channels are urging the government to arrest Nigerian workers who are working here without legal papers.”
In one post, it was claimed:
“The fine that Libya is accused of will be paid by Nigerian citizens who live in Libya.”
Such statements have fueled public anger and justified the government’s crackdown on Nigerians living in Libya.
Human rights organizations have raised alarms over these developments, warning against retaliatory actions targeting foreign nationals based on political disputes. Ahmed Hamza, Chairman of the National Institution for Human Rights in Libya, cautioned against such measures:
“We warn against any form of retaliation against foreign and migrant workers in Libya, especially Nigerian workers.”
As tensions rise, there are increasing calls for diplomatic intervention from Nigeria’s government to protect its citizens abroad. Community leaders have urged Nigerian authorities to engage with Libyan officials to ensure that innocent Nigerians are not caught up in this political fallout.
Omoregbie stated:
“Please, we appeal to the Nigerian government to come to our aid.”
He highlighted that many Nigerians living in Libya are there seeking better opportunities and should not be punished for issues beyond their control.
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