MTN closes shop nationwide

Security on red alert in Abuja

Shootout at Owerri Shoprite

Blame political leaders – Ezekwesili

 FOLLOWING retaliatory anti-xenophobic protests that rocked parts of Nigeria on Tuesday, the South African owned telecommunications giant, MTN, yesterday closed shops across Nigeria, wooing customers to its online portals.
MTN posted the decision on its Twitter handle stating “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 decision to lie low in operations came on the heels of reports of more threats by some Nigerians to continue touching South African interests in Nigeria until the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa cease.
The security reports also indicated that major South African companies including MTN, Dstv and Shoprite were earmarked for reprisal attacks in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, security was yesterday beefed up around South African-owned companies operating in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The development sent shock waves from the city centre to satellite towns, particularly around MTN offices and SPAR outlets in Central Business District, with Shoprite outlets in Jabi, Lugbe, Wuse and Karu heavily guarded as tension mounts over attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
Similarly, residents of Owerri, Imo State yesterday, witnessed heavy shoot out at Shoprite Stores at Egbu road as angry mobs engaged anti-riot policemen in a bid to gain entrance into the premises.
However, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has traced the rise in xenophobia to African politicians accusing them of failing to improve social problems such as unemployment.
Ezekwesili dropped the bombshell as a panelist at the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa taking place in South Africa until tomorrow.