Chaos in Osogbo: Furious Residents Block Major Road Over SIM Blockage

Residents of Osun State erupted in protest on Monday, blocking the Oke Fia/Dele-Yes-Sir dual carriageway in Osogbo, the state capital, after MTN officials allegedly delayed attending to their complaints regarding barred mobile lines.

Disgruntled customers, who had traveled from various towns across the state, gathered at the MTN Connect Store, the company's head office in Osogbo. Many reported arriving as early as 1:00 am, only to face lengthy waits without resolution.

In their frustration, the residents obstructed the road, causing significant disruptions for motorists. The situation was eventually brought under control with the intervention of operatives from the Department of State Security (DSS), who instructed the protesters to clear the blockade.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described a chaotic environment. Those allowed inside the MTN premises were reportedly individuals who had registered their names on Saturday, while names of new arrivals were still being compiled. Exceptions were made for elderly, visibly ill, and pregnant women, who were permitted to wait inside.

A visibly distressed Mrs. Korede, a resident of Ikire, shared her ordeal with The PUNCH, explaining that she arrived at 5:00 am to find herself already 114th in line. "I have my NIN and linked it to my mobile line. I don’t know why my line was barred. It’s frustrating," she lamented.

Another resident, a commercial motorcyclist from Ikirun who wished to remain anonymous, recounted arriving at the MTN office in his town at 7:00 am, only to find a large crowd. Hoping for better luck in Osogbo, he was disappointed to encounter the same situation and joined the roadblock protest. "The tension was high, but the presence of security men kept things under control," he noted.

Despite attempts to speak with senior officials at the Osogbo MTN Connect Office, The PUNCH’s correspondent was unable to obtain any comments, as those approached claimed not to be employees of the organization.

The unrest underscores the growing frustration among residents over service delays and the lack of effective communication from MTN, highlighting the need for better customer service and more efficient handling of such widespread issues.

Source: PUNCH