Nigerians living and working in Libya are gripped with fear and uncertainty following the circulation of warnings asking migrants, particularly Nigerians and other Africans, to leave the country before October 1, 2026. The warnings have spread through social media and migrant communities, leaving many uncertain about whether the October 1 date represents an official government directive or is being circulated by individuals and groups. Several Nigerians told SaharaReporters that tensions had increased in recent days, with some landlords allegedly asking them to vacate their apartments.
Some Libyan employers and colleagues have warned Nigerians to stay away from work amid fears of possible attacks and arrests. One Nigerian worker said his Libyan colleagues had specifically advised him not to report to work. “My Libyan colleagues told me not to come to work tomorrow. They told me that because of what is happening, I should stay where I am and not come out. They said I should be very careful,” he said. Another Nigerian said his landlord had already asked tenants to look for alternative accommodation.
A Nigerian woman living in Libya said the warnings were directed at Africans generally, although Nigerians appeared to be frequently mentioned. “It is not only Nigerians that are being talked about. They are talking about Africans generally, but Nigerians are being mentioned a lot. People are saying Nigerians are taking jobs that should belong to Libyans and that many Nigerians are here without proper papers,” she said. Many Nigerians have reduced their movements because of reports of arrests and growing hostility towards African migrants.
Another Nigerian resident said reports of police arrests of African migrants had heightened the anxiety. “The arrests have started. We started hearing about Africans being picked up, and that is what is making everybody afraid. If you are an undocumented migrant, you don't know what will happen to you if the police stop you,” he said. He said the fear extended beyond migrants without documentation, as even those with documents were still afraid.
The Nigerians who spoke to SaharaReporters said some of the hostility appeared linked to accusations that foreign migrants were taking jobs from Libyans. According to them, Nigerians working in low-income and informal sectors had increasingly become the subject of complaints from some Libyans. “They are saying Nigerians are taking their menial jobs. They are saying Nigerians are coming here and doing the work that Libyans are supposed to do,” one Nigerian said.
A warning circulating widely on social media, attributed to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), urges migrants and refugees in Libya to leave the country before October 1. However, Refugees in Libya, a migrant-led organisation, has raised concerns about the situation while cautioning that there was no publicly verifiable Libyan government decree establishing October 1 as a nationwide legal deadline for all foreigners to leave the country.
Some Nigerians also expressed frustration over what they described as the response of Nigerian diplomatic authorities. According to the sources, Nigerians seeking information or assistance from the Nigerian Embassy were allegedly told that the embassy had limited options, particularly for migrants without valid immigration documents. One source said the response increased their sense of vulnerability.
Key points
- The warnings have spread through social media and migrant communities, leaving many Nigerians uncertain about their safety.
- The hostility towards Nigerians and other Africans in Libya appears to be linked to accusations of job theft and the presence of undocumented migrants.
- The Nigerian Embassy has reportedly told migrants that it has limited options to assist them, particularly those without valid immigration documents.
