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CAF ruling: FG assures on safety of Nigerians in Libya
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to safety of Nigerians in Libya following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) recent ruling against the North African country.
CAF last month sanctioned Libya over alleged mistreatment of the Nigerian team during an African Nations Cup qualifying match in Benghazi.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Eche Abu-Obe, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assured that Nigerians in Libya are safe and going about their daily activities without interference.
He said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to convey that as of the time of making this statement, Nigerians in Libya are going about their daily activities, devoid of any form of harassment by Libyan authorities.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to reiterate that the well-being of Nigerian citizens anywhere in the world is a top priority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will continue to strive to safeguard it at all times.”
READ ALSO: ABORTED MATCH: CAF awards Nigeria three points, three goals against Libya
However, reports from members of the Nigerian community in Libya indicate mass arrests and fines following the CAF verdict.
The Nigerian football team was held hostage at the Al-Abraq Airport in eastern Libya for over 20 hours upon arrival for the second leg of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The CAF disciplinary committee awarded Nigeria three points and three goals for the abandoned match, ruling that the Libyan Football Federation breached Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
In response to the ruling, Libyan media outlets have called for the arrest of Nigerian workers without legal papers to spark widespread concern among the Nigerian community in the country.
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