A wave of mass arrests and fines has been unleashed upon Nigerian nationals in Libya, in an apparent retaliation for the recent Confederation of African Football (CAF) verdict.
The CAF had awarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria three points and three goals for the abandoned match, while also imposing a $50,000 fine on the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) for their treatment of the Nigerian football team.
In the aftermath of the CAF ruling, Libyan media outlets and bloggers have been inciting hostility towards Nigerian workers, labeling them as illegal or irregular residents.
The National Institution for Human Rights in Libya has warned against such retaliatory acts, cautioning that they could lead to repercussions in domestic and international justice.
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Despite the warning, the arrests continue, with many Nigerians being detained regardless of their residency status.
The Libyan government’s actions have sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for the Nigerian government to intervene and protect its citizens.
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“They have already started proving this. 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, says Adenaike Emmanuel, Nigerian living in Tripoli.
The situation remains tense, with many Nigerians in Libya living in fear of arrest and deportation.
The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the situation, but many are calling for urgent action to be taken to protect its citizens.