Xenophobia: MTN Office Attacked By Irate Youths

The growing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, yesterday re-echoed in Abuja, as some youths, who went wild during a protest,and attacked the regional office of MTN in Abuja Daily Sun reports.

According to an eyewitness report, the youths converged on the premises ofthe  firm at about 1pm, carrying placards with different inscriptions.

One of the witnesses, a security guard in one of the nearby offices, who pleaded anonymous told Daily Sun that more than 100 youths participated in the protest.

Checks revealed that the protesting youths gathered at the Maitama office of the company under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). This could not, however, be verified as at the time of filing this report.

Speaking further, the security guard said the youths, who were chanting solidarity songs went violent minutes after arriving in the facility. He said many of them jumped the perimeter fence and immediately vandalised some facilities before security agents intervened.

He revealed that other protesters forced their way through the entrance gate, adding that the private security guards, who were overpowered by the protesting youths, appeared helpless as the irate youths carried out their attacks.

“At about 11am, some protesters came here. They were very peaceful. They dropped their letter with management. We did not witness any violence. But this particular group came and was very violent.

“From the inscriptions on their banner, they are students. I saw NANS. Before we could even call them to order, they went violent and jumped the perimeter fence. Others went through the main gate. We are lucky that nobody was injured during the protest,” the security guard said.

Apparently worried that more attacks might follow, the MTN office, which services the entire Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and some northern states, immediately shut down its operations.

Customers were turned back and told to return when the office would be reopened.

When Daily Sun visited the office, one of the workers confirmed that no date had been fixed for resumption of services.

The staff stated that services would be suspended until the xenophobic attacks abated and normalcy returned to troubled South Africa.

It was earlier reported that MTN Nigeria had pleaded with Nigerians to ignore inciting postings on social media platforms urging reprisal attacks on MTN installations in the country.

A human rights group which goes by the name ‘The Flagship’ barricaded the MTN office in Benin city, Edo state, and protested over the recent spate of Xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The South African President, Jacob Zuma has already promised to end the violence but the attacks are still on the rise.