Following a verdict by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in response to a complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation over recent mistreatment of the Super Eagles in Libya, reports of mass arrests and fines against Nigerians in Libya have emerged.
The Nigerian team was detained at Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours upon arrival for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya’s national team. Originally scheduled to land at Benghazi Airport, the team was to travel four hours by road to Benina, the match location. However, less than an hour before landing, the Tunisian pilot reportedly received instructions to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, 150 miles from the destination.
This development triggered significant backlash, leading the NFF to withdraw the Super Eagles from the match and file an official complaint with CAF. On October 26, CAF’s disciplinary committee awarded the Super Eagles three points and three goals for the abandoned match and imposed a $50,000 fine on the Libyan Football Federation (LFF), which must be paid within 60 days. The LFF President, Nasser Al-Suwai’I, criticised the verdict as “unjust and malicious,” claiming the NFF’s influence in CAF impacted the outcome. He announced plans to appeal and, if necessary, take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Following CAF’s decision, a Libyan news blog, Libya News Today 1, published a statement urging the government to arrest Nigerian workers without legal papers, impose a $500 fine, and tax them. Another Libyan site, Libya INF.TV, reported calls for the government to detain Nigerian workers lacking Libyan documents.
Reports indicate that arrests began soon after the CAF ruling. A Nigerian in Tripoli, Adenaike Emmanuel, shared that arrests started on Sunday, with Libyan authorities targeting Nigerians in various areas. Videos shared by the President of the Nigerian community in Libya, Peter Omoregbie, confirmed the arrests, noting that authorities were detaining individuals regardless of their legal documentation.
Omoregbie explained that CAF, an independent football association, had fined the LFF for obstructing Nigeria’s participation in the match. However, he expressed frustration that innocent Nigerians were being targeted in retaliation. He called for intervention from international bodies, emphasising the need for Nigerian government support.
Additional accounts from Nigerians in Libya, including a man identified as Omo Oba Legba, revealed intensified arrests, with Libyan police reportedly instructed to detain anyone identified as Nigerian. In a video, Legba warned fellow Nigerians to stay cautious, recounting his Arab employer’s advice to avoid public spaces due to the crackdown.
The Chairman of Libya’s National Institution for Human Rights, Ahmed Hamza, urged authorities to avoid retaliating against Nigerian workers, cautioning against any unlawful actions that could have domestic and international consequences. Hamza condemned media outlets inciting hostility towards foreigners by branding them as illegal residents.
When contacted, officials from the Libyan Embassy in Abuja declined to comment, directing inquiries to be submitted in writing. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it had contacted relevant authorities but did not provide additional information. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli have yet to respond to requests for comments.
A former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, advised the Nigerian government to investigate the arrests and report Libya to the African Union. He recommended Nigerians in Libya keep a low profile or, if necessary, leave until the situation improves.
