Students in Kaduna and Benue shut down MTN and DSTV offices to protest Xenophobic attacks

Students in Kaduna and Benue State yesterday, staged a protest over xenophobic attacks that has seen the death of 118 Nigerians in the last two years at South African Telecommunication giant, MTN office and DSTV Office.

Students in Kaduna shut the Kaduna office of MTN over the xenophobic attacks and killings of Nigerians in South Africa. Similarly, in Benue state, the students shut down MTN and DSTV main offices over the same issue.

Leader of the protesting students in Kaduna,  Mr. Dominic Philip, explained that the step was necessary to curb further attacks, looting, destruction and mindless killings of African nationalities, particularly Nigerians in South Africa. Philip recalled that Nigeria had contributed morally, financially, diplomatically and logistically to the agitations that eventually led to the emancipation of South Africans from white’s domination. He noted that Nigeria played a big brotherly role by opening economic opportunities for South African citizens to invest in the Nigerian market, the biggest market in Africa.

Philip, however, noted with dismay that South Africa had allowed Nigerians to suffer all forms of discrimination, including murders and looting of their businesses. According to him:

“Available records have shown that the level of attacks on Nigerians is on the astronomical rise, with the recent killing of another Nigerian by South Africans, on July 20, increasing the number to 118 in the last two years. ”

Similarly, in Benue State,  leader of the students, Abah Owoicho, who led the protest to shut down the offices of MTN and DSTV, also presented a strong-worded letter of protest to the organisations. Owoicho said the letter was a condemnation of the years of barbaric killings of Nigerians in South Africa. “Since Nigerians living in South Africa cannot enjoy the same peace and support that South African businesses are enjoying here, it is only reasonable to shut down those businesses and their interests, until further notice,” he said.

Ms Vera Ube, MTN Connect Manager in Makurdi, received the protest letter on behalf of MTN. She told the students that the management and staff of MTN were not in support of the killings as it had condemned such anti-development actions any time they occurred.