Despite appeals against retaliatory attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria, hoodlums on Tuesday evening burned down the MTN office in Bodija,
Despite appeals against retaliatory attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria, hoodlums on Tuesday evening burned down the MTN office in Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo capital. The building was raized around 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
MTN, a South African telecoms firm, is the largest mobile phone operator in Nigeria.
In light of the development, the South Africa company announced the closure of all its shops in Nigeria following the destruction of some of its offices and equipment nationwide by hoodlums in retaliation to the Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
There had been series of attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa. An action which the minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama says the South African government was not doing enough to quell. The attacks by South Africans also led to an attempt by some Nigerians to raze some South African owned companies in Nigeria on Tuesday, including Dstv and Shoprite.
In a message to its subscribers on Wednesday, MTN Nigeria announced the closure of its shops and the operation of only its online platforms.
“Yello! Our shops are unavailable today. You can reach us on Twitter- @MTN180, MTNonline.com/Livechat, chat on MyMTN App. For Call Center dial 180. Thank you
The telecom operator did not say when the shops would be reopened.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman, has condemned xenophobic attacks against African migrants including Nigerians in South Africa.
Nigerians on social media had called on their compatriots to boycott South African products and services in Nigeria in retaliation of the violence against their countrymen in South Africa.
Reacting to the development, Moolman in a statement on Tuesday said, “MTN Nigeria strongly condemns hate, prejudice and xenophobia and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of all violence.
“We seek to connect people, bring people together and provide a platform for everyone’s voice to be heard. We are against all forms of bigotry and discrimination; they should have no place in society. Everyone has the right to a world where their rights and freedoms are respected – the right to live and earn a living, freely, safely and protected by the law.”
