He assured that, as of the date of the statement, Nigerians living and working in Libya were carrying out their daily activities without facing any harassment from Libyan authorities.
The Federal Government has refuted reports alleging that Nigerians are being specifically targeted for arrest in Libya after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Nigeria three points and three goals in a decision against Libya.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the claims were unfounded.
He assured that, as of the date of the statement, Nigerians living and working in Libya were carrying out their daily activities without facing any harassment from Libyan authorities.
Abu-Obe urged citizens to remain calm and assured them that the Ministry is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and well-being of Nigerians in Libya.
“This follows the CAF verdict, which held the Libyan Football Association accountable for their mistreatment of the Nigerian team and officials during their stay in Libya for a Nations Cup qualifying match,” it said.
He also assured that the Federal Government remains committed to prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians, no matter where they are located.
LIBYA INF.TV in a Facebook post on Sunday said recent virtual campaigns in Libya had intensified calls for the deportation of foreign workers and limitations on their activities, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
“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 came 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.