Xenophobia: Nigerians attack MTN offices

via Xenophobia: Nigerians attack MTN offices – New Zimbabwe 23/04/2015

MTN’s regional office in Abuja reportedly shut down its operations on Wednesday following attacks by irate youths presumably protesting over the on-going xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Reports said a group of more than 100 youths converged at the MTN premises carrying placards with different inscriptions.

Apparently worried that more attacks could follow, the MTN office immediately shut down its operations, the report said.

MTN staff said services would be suspended until the xenophobic attacks faded away and stability returned to South Africa.

MTN Nigeria warned early this week that any attack on its facilities could force it to close shop, a development that could see at least 99% of its over 6 000 workforce in the country become jobless, one report said.

This comes as Nigeria’s foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner over anti-immigrant violence.

According to a Reuters report, the ministry said the essence of the meeting was to register Nigeria’s protest over the on-going xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans in South Africa.

The ministry also called on authorities to quell the unrest and bring those involved to book.

Isolated counter-protests involving a few dozen people have occurred in Nigeria, an economy in which South African firms such as mobile phone giant MTN and supermarket chain Shoprite have large stakes, the report said.