Hundreds of university students took to the streets of Abuja on Friday, staging a protest at the headquarters of MTN Nigeria over reports of alleged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
The demonstration, organized by the National Association of University Students (NAUS), saw protesters block access roads leading to the telecommunications company’s headquarters while chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards. The action disrupted traffic in the area as motorists were forced to seek alternative routes.
Videos shared on social media showed a tense standoff between the students and police officers, who formed barricades outside the MTN office to prevent demonstrators from entering the premises. The protesters insisted they were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests.
According to NAUS, the protest was prompted by reports of renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa. The student body said it chose to demonstrate at MTN Nigeria, a subsidiary of South Africa’s MTN Group, as a way of drawing attention to the issue and urging South African authorities to take stronger action to protect foreign nationals.
Student leaders warned that additional peaceful protests against South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria could follow if the alleged attacks continue and no meaningful response is provided.
As of the time of the protest, MTN Nigeria had not issued an official statement addressing the demonstration or the demands raised by the students. The company has consistently maintained that it is a Nigerian-incorporated business employing thousands of Nigerians, despite being part of the South African-based MTN Group.
The latest protest echoes similar demonstrations witnessed in 2019, when businesses linked to South Africa, including MTN, Shoprite and MultiChoice, faced widespread protests in Nigeria following earlier incidents of xenophobic violence. Those demonstrations led to temporary business closures and prompted diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and South Africa.
With emotions running high, the students say their protest is intended to send a clear message that the safety of Nigerians living abroad must remain a priority and that recurring xenophobic attacks should not go unanswered.#newsafro_
