Following a recent Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruling in favor of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, reports have surfaced of mass arrests of Nigerians in Libya. The CAF Disciplinary Committee awarded the Super Eagles three points and three goals after the team faced delays and detainment at a Libyan airport ahead of an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. This decision reportedly sparked anger among Libyan authorities and has led to retaliatory actions against Nigerian residents in the country.
Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian living in Tripoli, described the situation as tense, with many Nigerians detained shortly after CAF’s ruling was made public. The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) expressed frustration with CAF’s decision and vowed to appeal, claiming the punishment was unfair. However, many Nigerians in Libya report feeling targeted and unsafe amid escalating crackdowns.
Peter Omoregbie, the President of the Nigerian community in Libya, confirmed the arrests, stating that authorities are detaining Nigerians indiscriminately, regardless of documentation. He highlighted that in many cases, Libyan police have been arresting Nigerians without regard for passports or residence permits. Omoregbie urged the Nigerian government and international organizations to intervene to protect Nigerian citizens abroad.
With heightened tensions, members of the Nigerian community are calling on both the Nigerian and Libyan governments to address the situation peacefully and ensure the safety of all Nigerians in Libya.
