Following the verdict from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the ill-treatment of the Super Eagles on their visit to Libya for the second leg of their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match, Nigerians in Libya are reportedly facing widespread arrests amid escalating calls for the deportation of foreign workers.

LIBYA INF.TV in a Facebook post on Sunday said recent virtual campaigns in Libya have intensified calls for the deportation of foreign workers and limitations on their activities, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.

These groups have raised alarms about the potential rise of hatred and incitement towards the hundreds of thousands of foreigners living in the country.

“Virtual campaigns have recently escalated in Libya demanding the deportation of foreign workers and restricting their activity in the country, sparking a wave of condemnation from human rights organizations warning of the spread of feelings of hatred and incitement against hundreds of thousands of foreigners residing in this Maghreb country,” it said.

Another local blog, Libya News Today 1, also called on the government to apprehend undocumented Nigerian workers, proposing a $500 fine and appropriate taxation. Adenaike Emmanuel, a Nigerian living in Tripoli, confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that arrests had begun.

“They have already started. The news came out on Saturday, and they were saying they can’t accept it and that they are not the ones who will pay the money. They have started proving this.”

She added, “Someone called me and said they had already begun arresting people in his area. The same thing is happening here in Tripoli. In some places, people were arrested on Sunday morning and afternoon. As I mentioned before, Libyans don’t hide their feelings. They believe that by doing this, they are getting their revenge.”
Peter Omoregbie, President of the Nigerian community in Libya, verified the arrests in a video that was widely shared by several Libya-based Nigerian blogs last Monday.

This confirmation comes amidst rising tensions between Nigeria and Libya, after Nigerian football players were stranded at an airport in Libya for about 18 hours.

He said, “The arrests started on Sunday night in some areas in Tedora. They are arresting innocent people. They don’t even care whether you have passports or residence permits. They just don’t care, which doesn’t happen in other countries.”
He linked the arrests to the recent face-off between the countries, especially following the CAF ruling which favoured Nigeria and imposed a fine against Libya.

He said, “As the community leader, I received some videos showing that the arrests started last night in the Tedora area. They said the Libyan police have started arresting Nigerians, whether they have passports or not. Some of us are already afraid, calling everywhere to ask what to do. Sometimes, as community leaders, we are helpless. Even the Nigerian Embassy’s hands are sometimes tied. But international bodies need to intervene in this situation.”

The CAF ruling followed a formal complaint from the Nigeria Football Federation regarding the treatment of the Super Eagles, who faced significant logistical challenges, including a redirected flight and over 18 hours of delays during their recent visit to North Africa.

The CAF ultimately cancelled the match, awarding Nigeria three goals and three points while imposing a $50,000 fine on the Libyan Football Federation.
In the aftermath, Libyan media began advocating for the arrest of Nigerians without proper documentation, suggesting that the fines against the Libyan federation would be transferred to the Nigerian community.

This narrative has been echoed on social media, where posts have alleged that Nigerian workers are a burden on Libyan resources.