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MTN scared of reprisal attacks in Nigeria, alerts police

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MTN scared of reprisal attacks in Nigeria, alerts police

Palpable fear has gripped Nigeria-based South African telecom company, MTN, over rumours of planned reprisal attacks by aggrieved Nigerian youths.

This is as a result of the recent xenophobic attacks on some Nigerians in South Africa mid February 2017.

The concern over the attack was expressed by a senior official of the company in a chat with Ripples Nigeria on Thursday after a save our soul letter from the company’s management was dispatched to the Ministry of Communication.

Also copied in the said letter were the mother company in South Africa and security operatives in Nigeria, including the police.

Mrs Ronke Komolafe, a media consultant with the group said there was strong evidence that some misdirected members of the public were planning a surprise attack on the company in retaliation for the recent event in South Africa.

“The violence, if allowed would be targeted at MTN properties in parts of Nigeria
which information at our disposal showed will be coordinated and will lead to collateral damage,” she said.

But officials of the Ministry refused to offer comments on the issue.

Read also: Nigeria shuns IMF, seeks $2.3bn loans from W/Bank, China

The scare is coming amid reports that Nigerian protesters on Thursday attacked and vandalised the head office of South African mobile phone giant MTN in Abuja.

This is also happening the same day a team of MTN senior officials paid the acting president Yemi Osinbajo a visit at the state House, Abuja.

Those in the team were the Group Chairman Mtn, Mr Phutuma Nhleko; Chairman MTN Nigeria, Dr Pascal Dozie

Member Mtn Board of Director, Mr Gbenga Oyebode, Col Sani Bello (Rtd) Group Chairman Mtn, Mr Phutuma Nhleko,

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Chairman MTN Nigeria, Dr Pascal Dozie and and CEO Mtn Nigeria, Mr Ferdinand Moolman among others.

Nigerians in South Africa have recently come under attack again, in renewed violence against immigrants into that country.

Many Nigerians were injured in the recent attack, with losses of over $1.5 billion reportedly sustained.

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