Osun residents protest SIM blockage, cause traffic gridlock

Some angry residents of Osun State on Monday blocked the Oke Fia/Dele-Yes-Sir dual carriageway in Osogbo, the State capital, over MTN officials’ alleged refusal to attend to them early following the barring of their mobile lines.

Some of the displeased customers residing in the state who spoke to The PUNCH at the MTN Connect Store, which serves as the head office of the organisation in the state, located along the Oke Fia/Dele-Yes-Sir dual carriageway in Osogbo, said they came from different towns across the state when their lines were barred from the network.

They, however, said despite the fact that some of them arrived at the premises as early as 1:00 am, the officials of the organisation did not attend to their complaint early enough.

Venting their anger, the residents blocked the road, forcing many road users on the route to make a detour.

The arrival of operatives of Department of State Security, however, restored normalcy, as they directed the protesters to remove the barricade.

During a visit, our correspondent was told that those who were allowed inside the premises of Osogbo MTN Connect Store were those who registered their names on Saturday, while names of those coming to restore their lines on Monday were being compiled.

Aged, visibly sick, and pregnant women were, however, allowed into the premises to sit, waiting for their turn to be called inside the office to lodge their complaints.

Our correspondent also observed a vehicle belonging to DSS with about 5 operatives in uniform parked beside MTN premises

During an interview with our correspondent, a resident of Ikire, simply identified as Mrs Korede, said she arrived at the Osogbo MTN Connect Store around 5: 00 am and met a large number of people already waiting to be attended to.

“I got here around 5: 00 am. I came from Ikire. When I got here, I was told 114 people had registered before me. I didn’t see any list where names were written, but I was told I was number 114.

“This kind of experience is uncalled for. I have my NIN and linked it to my mobile line. I don’t know why my line was barred. Those you saw on the premises are those who wrote their names on Saturday. I was told some of us that came early today may still get our chance,” she said.

Also commenting, a commercial motorcyclist from Ikirun, Osun State, who refused to disclose his name to our correspondent, said at the MTN office in his town, there was already a large crowd when he got there around 7:00 am.

He further said, “Because of that, he decided to come to Osogbo, hoping I wouldn’t meet many people. I made the wrong conclusion. I have been here since 8:00 am. I was part of the protesters that blocked the road. I was told they started (the protest) around 7:00 am. We didn’t open it until around 9:00 am when DSS people came around and told us to remove the barricade.

“Some soldiers earlier came around but they didn’t wait. You can see the tension is high but the presence of security men is keeping the situation under control.”

Efforts by our correspondent to speak to the most senior officer in charge of the Osogbo MTN Connect Office failed as those approached with the request all claimed not to be employees of the organisation.