Following CAF’s fine on Libya’s football federation over the mistreatment of Nigerian players, Libyan authorities have begun mass arrests of Nigerians, sparking safety concerns. Community leaders are calling for intervention as both documented and undocumented Nigerians face arbitrary detention in response to the CAF verdict.
Libyan authorities have reportedly launched a series of mass arrests targeting Nigerians in the country following a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). CAF recently fined Libya’s football federation $50,000 after Nigerian footballers faced delays and detainment upon arrival for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match. Libyan authorities allegedly diverted the Nigerian team’s flight, detaining them at Al-Abraq Airport, which led the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to file a complaint.
Since CAF's ruling, Libyan media outlets have called for Nigerians living in Libya without proper documentation to be detained and fined $500. Reports from Tripoli and other regions indicate that Nigerians, including legal residents and those without permits, are facing arbitrary detention. Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian resident in Tripoli, confirmed the arrests and expressed concerns over the safety and stability of Nigerians in Libya.
Peter Omoregbie, a leader of the Nigerian community in Libya, urged international bodies to intervene, emphasizing that innocent Nigerian residents are being affected by a dispute unrelated to them. Libya’s human rights organization has also advised against retaliatory actions toward foreign workers, warning that these arrests may have legal repercussions. Nigerian authorities are now being urged to work diplomatically to ensure the protection and safety of Nigerians living in Libya amid these ongoing tensions.
