MTN subscribers protest against disconnection in Owerri

Expressing their anger visibly after their SIM cards were disconnected, scores of MTN subscribers in Imo State yesterday staged a protest in Owerri, the capital city, over what they called incessant disconnection of their lines.
 
The two-storey building headquarters of the network located at the ever-busy Wethdral Road, Owerri, was besieged by scores of the network’s subscribers, as early as 5.00a.m to write their names in sheets of white paper provided by the security men, to enable the officials call them in for registration.

By 8.00a.m, the crowd had caused traffic gridlock on the road. They complained that no crowd control mechanism was in place, including the use of a mini public address system to hear what the MTN officials were saying.

The Guardian gathered that the protesters’ anger went viral when someone allegedly threw bags of satchet water from the bulding to the crowd, coupled by the alleged non-observance of the list in attending to the aggrieved customers. They launched a reprisal attack, throwing heavy stones, smashing glasses and property of the network.

Meanwhile, calm was restored when the police arrived and announced to the protesting subscribers that their lines were going to be restored.