Our reporter
The Federal Government has refuted claims of widespread arrests and mistreatment of Nigerians residing in Libya after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled in Nigeria’s favour in a recent disciplinary matter.
CAF had recently penalised the Libyan Football Association, awarding the Nigerian Super Eagles additional points and fining Libya $50,000 following incidents of harassment and poor treatment of Nigerian players and officials during a Nations Cup Qualifier held in Libya.
In the wake of this ruling, unverified reports began circulating that Nigerians in Libya were facing retaliatory actions, including alleged arbitrary arrests and harassment by local authorities.
Adding fuel to the rumours, some Libyan news outlets reportedly published opinion pieces calling on their government to impose higher taxes on Nigerian residents as a means to offset the CAF-imposed fine. These reports led to concerns within Nigeria about the safety of its citizens in Libya.
In response, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement assuring the public that Nigerians in Libya remain safe and are not facing targeted harassment from Libyan authorities. The ministry emphasised that, as of the time of the announcement, there was no evidence of systematic arrest or harassment of Nigerians and reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to assure Nigerians that citizens in Libya are conducting their daily activities without any form of harassment following the Confederation of African Football’s decision against the Libyan Football Association,” the statement read.
“The well-being and security of Nigerian nationals remain a top priority for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and we remain steadfast in our duty to safeguard it.”
The ministry encouraged Nigerians in Libya to continue reporting any genuine cases of harassment to Nigerian authorities, reaffirming that diplomatic channels remain open to ensure the welfare of Nigerians worldwide.
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