Following a recent football controversy between Nigeria and Libya, Libyan authorities have launched mass arrests targeting the Nigerian community, sparking alarm and calls for international intervention. The crackdown comes after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruling that penalized Libya for alleged mistreatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
On October 26, CAF awarded Nigeria three points and three goals, alongside a $50,000 fine imposed on Libya, in response to a complaint filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The Super Eagles were reportedly detained at Al-Abraq Airport for over 20 hours upon arrival in Libya for an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, igniting a diplomatic spat between the two nations.
Public outrage in Libya over CAF’s ruling has intensified, with local media and bloggers calling for punitive action against Nigerians in Libya. Several Libyan TV stations and social media platforms, including the prominent *Libya News Today 1* blog, have urged authorities to detain undocumented Nigerian workers and levy a $500 “tax” against them to offset the CAF fine. “All Libyan TV channels are urging the government to arrest the Nigerian workers... They have to go back home,” the blog stated, which commands over 188,000 followers on Facebook.
The backlash escalated with calls for “revenge” arrests targeting Nigerians, which, according to community reports, began Sunday. Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian resident in Tripoli, confirmed seeing arrests in several areas shortly after the CAF verdict was publicized. "Libyans don’t hide their feelings...they are getting their revenge,” Emmanuel told *Sunday Punch*.
According to the President of the Nigerian Community in Libya, Peter Omoregbie, the arrests are indiscriminate, with Libyan authorities detaining individuals regardless of their legal status. "They don’t even care whether you have passports or residence permits. They just don’t care," Omoregbie said in a video circulated on Libyan-based Nigerian social media.
Omoregbie further clarified the events leading up to the crackdown, stating that the CAF decision, which he emphasized as non-governmental, stemmed from an incident in which the Nigerian team was rerouted upon arrival in Libya, preventing the match from taking place. He expressed frustration with the fallout, noting, "Now, on social media, Libyan journalists and numerous bloggers are saying that Nigeria will be made to pay the $50,000 fine by arresting all Nigerians in Libya.”
While Libyan news site *INF.TV* aired a video showing a Nigerian man pleading with Libyan authorities to spare the local Nigerian population, the situation has created widespread fear and unease. The man in the video criticized both Libyan authorities and the Nigerian football team for sparking the tensions, stating, “Football has nothing to do with us... Please, Libyan police, please.”
The Nigerian Embassy has not yet issued a formal response, but Nigerian community leaders are calling on international bodies to address the crisis, fearing for the safety and welfare of Nigerians in Libya.
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