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By Spy Uganda
Hundreds of university students on Friday brought activities to a standstill at the headquarters of MTN Nigeria in Abuja, staging a mass protest over alleged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
The demonstration, organised by the National Association of University Students (NAUS), saw protesters block access roads leading to the telecommunications giant’s offices, chant solidarity songs and confront police officers who had been deployed to secure the premises.
Videos widely shared on social media captured dramatic scenes of students waving placards, singing protest songs and attempting to march towards the MTN headquarters as security personnel erected barricades to prevent them from entering the compound.
The protest caused significant traffic disruption in parts of the Nigerian capital, forcing motorists and commuters to seek alternative routes.
The student leaders said the protest was sparked by reports of fresh xenophobic attacks allegedly targeting Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa.
They accused South African authorities of failing to adequately protect foreign nationals and called for urgent intervention to end recurring attacks on African migrants.
According to the organisers, the demonstration was intended to send a clear message to the South African government by targeting prominent South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria.
Although MTN Nigeria is incorporated in Nigeria and employs thousands of Nigerians, it is a subsidiary of the South Africa-based MTN Group, making it a symbolic focus of the protest.
“We are demanding justice and protection for Nigerians in South Africa,” student leaders said, warning that more peaceful demonstrations could follow if authorities in Pretoria fail to address the concerns.
Security was heightened around the MTN headquarters as police officers formed human barricades outside the premises to prevent protesters from gaining entry.
Videos from the scene showed tense verbal exchanges between demonstrators and police officers, with students insisting that they were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
Despite the confrontation, there were no immediate reports of injuries, property damage or arrests by the time the protest concluded.
Authorities maintained a strong security presence throughout the demonstration as protesters continued chanting and displaying placards condemning xenophobic violence.
As of the time of publication, MTN Nigeria had not issued an official statement regarding the protest or the demands presented by the student body.
The company has previously emphasized that while it is part of South Africa’s MTN Group, it is a Nigerian-incorporated business employing thousands of Nigerians and contributing significantly to the country’s economy.
Friday’s demonstration revived memories of the widespread anti-xenophobia protests that swept across Nigeria in 2019 following attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
During those protests, several South African businesses including MTN, Shoprite and MultiChoice temporarily suspended operations after some of their outlets were attacked by demonstrators demanding stronger protection for Nigerians abroad.
The incidents prompted diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and South Africa, with both governments pledging to strengthen cooperation and protect citizens living in each other’s countries.
Student leaders said their latest action was not directed at ordinary South Africans but was intended to pressure authorities to address what they described as repeated acts of xenophobic violence against Nigerians.
They argued that Africans should be free to live, work and conduct business across the continent without fear of discrimination or violence.
The protest underscores the continued sensitivity surrounding xenophobic attacks in South Africa, an issue that has periodically strained diplomatic relations with several African countries and reignited calls for stronger protections for migrants across the continent.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/abuja-erupts-nigerian-students-shut-down-mtn-headquarters-over-s-africa-xenophobic-attacks/
