Scores of youths, on Tuesday, afternoon launched an attack on the MTN office in Uyo, located along Ikot Ekpene Road.

The office is few metres from the the town campus of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

The surprise attack, our correspondent learnt, may not be unconnected with the Xenophobic attacks and killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

Some private radio stations had aired phone in programmes on the killings and attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

Many callers had called to express their anger over the unfortunate plight of Nigerians in the former apartheid enclave and called on Nigeria to take drastic actions to stop the onslaught.

The Nation gathered that the attack on the MTN building started at about 2.30pm with the rampaging youths destroying glass doors and windows of the facility.

A sales lady at the shop, who narrowly escaped being lynched, told our correspondent other valuable items were destroyed, phones and cash stolen by the attackers

She said: “They ordered people out, destroyed computers and took away cash and customers’ phones. We ran away through the backdoor to safety.”

It was also confirmed at news time that no casualty was recorded in the incident.

It is not yet clear if the attack was an isolated incident in city, as local authorities and the police are yet to speak on the incident.

The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon, did not immediately respond to calls and text messages put across to him.

However an eyewitness, who pleaded not to be named said, “The attack on the MTN shop in Uyo is most unfortunate because neither the building nor the computers belong to the South African people or government.

“Even the people working there are our brothers and sisters.” (The Nation)

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