A large crowd of enraged MTN subscribers vandalized the telecommunications company’s office in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State, Nigeria, early Monday, July 29, 2024. This unrest stemmed from the network blocking subscribers due to mismatches between their National Identification Number (NIN) and SIM registration.
In a widely circulated video on social media, the mob is seen destroying a barricade fence outside the MTN office. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed via X that the FESTAC Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and his team had restored order at the scene.
“This should not be the way to go! Meanwhile, the DPO FESTAC and his men responded immediately after they got this report. They succeeded in restoring normalcy and are still on the ground to maintain peace,” Hundeyin stated.
Earlier, it was reported that large crowds of frustrated subscribers had gathered at MTN offices nationwide to protest the disconnection of their phone numbers. The Nigeria Communications Commission had directed telecom companies to disconnect SIM numbers not linked to NINs, effective July 31, 2024.
