The Libyan government has reportedly begun a mass arrest of Nigerian nationals within its borders, said to be a reaction to a recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football. The report comes as a fallout of the recent decision by the CAF to impose a $50,000 fine on the football association of the North African country over its maltreatment of the Nigerian national football team.

The arrests have attracted international concern as Nigerian officials, community leaders, and human rights organizations call for intervention to protect the Nigerian citizens in this retaliatory situation.

Background on the CAF Ruling and Libya’s Reaction

In October this year, the national team of Nigeria waited for a very long time upon arrival in Libya for the match of the qualifying round of the Africa Cup of Nations. After investigation, CAF ruled that Libya’s football association violated its policy, the latter was fined, and Nigeria was awarded a victory by default​

The ruling infuriated the Libyan parties, who used some of their media outlets to canvass punitive measures against Nigerians in Libya by flagging that Nigerians in Libya, as residents, could be held financially liable.

Arrest and Harassment of Nigerians in Libya

Immediately after the CAF decision, there were reports that Libyan officials began persecuting Nigerian nationals in several cities, including the capital Tripoli. Witnesses and community leaders confirm that both documented and undocumented Nigerians were being rounded up. Community leaders in Tripoli and other cities have identified that even Nigerians with valid passports and residence permits are not spared from these arrests​

This development has generated both panic and confusion among Nigerians resident in Libya. Peter Omoregbie, a community leader among the Nigerians, said the arrests were indiscriminate, adding that Nigerians who knew nothing about the fight are being detained.

Social media also continues to fan the flames in Libya, with some commenters calling for the crackdown, insisting that the Nigerian community in Libya should bear the costs of CAF’s ruling.

Response by the Nigerian Government and the International Community

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied the reports publicly, stating that it had not confirmed any official action against Nigerians in Libya due to the CAF incident.

It insisted that it remained committed to efforts at protecting Nigerians abroad and hoped no verified cases of harassment were on record as of the time of its last statement. Nonetheless, Nigerian officials and community leaders continue to demand urgent diplomatic measures to forestall further retaliation​.

Human rights watchdogs, including the Libyan National Institution for Human Rights, warned against the use of foreign nationals as scapegoats for political differences.

Targeted actions against migrant communities in Libya may amount to breaches of international human rights standards, they said, and called on Libyan authorities to desist from inflammatory rhetoric, while taking positive steps toward the protection of the rights of foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians​.

The Urgent Need for Diplomatic Intervention

This crisis underlines the need for international diplomacy in the protection of migrants’ and foreign nationals’ rights in politically volatile settings. Leaders in this community have called upon the Nigerian government to intervene immediately with the Libyan authorities, appealing that these detained Nigerians be released and further punitive measures against Nigerians be averted.

Paramount is the assurance that Nigerian nationals, most of whom travel to Libya in search of jobs and a better life, will be kept from harm as diplomatic and human rights organizations closely monitor events.

Conclusion

The recent CAF ruling has created an unfortunate situation in Libya whereby Nigerian nationals have been caught in some political backlash. While the Nigerian government may not confirm that there is widespread harassment going on, reports and eyewitnesses have continued to indicate that this is something where urgent diplomatic action is required in terms of protecting Nigerians abroad.

Human rights organizations and the Nigerian government should be working toward a collaboration that ensures innocent Nigerians in Libya do not fall victim to increased tensions.