Protesters broke into the MTN office located on 4, Madiera Street, off Shehu Shagari way, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday.
Some members of staff of the organisation and customers were said to have been attacked, while valuables were reportedly stolen.
A witness, who simply identified himself as Oscar, told newsmen that but for the intervention of policemen, the protesters would have destroyed the building.
“The protest was about the xenophobia that is happening in South Africa. The protesters were not happy about the way South Africans have been maltreating Nigerians,” he said.
A Reuters reporter arriving at the scene after the incident, said he could see no obvious damage done to the building. Security officers had cordoned-off the entrance.
“They forcefully entered the MTN office. Security men were around but unable to curtail the protesters, who forced the gates open and entered the office,” a witness said.
“Some protesters were touts; some were students. In the midst of all were some criminals who seized the opportunity to steal some customers’ phones and other things,” a witness who craved anonymity said.
A South African government source described the attack as serious.
“This wasn’t just some people on the street throwing stones. They broke into the building, stole things and broke things.
“They wanted to pull down the office, but security operatives prevented them. One of them even suggested that they should go to the embassy,” the source said.
The attack occurred hours after Pascal Dozie, chairman of MTN Nigeria led a delegation of the company to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Activities have been suspended in the office, while policemen have taken over the area.
MTN head office in South Africa issued a statement on the incident, according to Reuters.
“Protesters stormed the regional head office of MTN and stole customers’ phones, vandalised equipment and attacked customers,” MTN’s spokesman said.
In his reaction, the Head of Public Relations, MTN Nigeria, Mr Funso Aina expresses concern over the violence.
“South Africa and Nigeria, MTN Group express concern over the violence. MTN requests people to exercise restraint and remain calm,” he said.
Earlier, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Abuja staged a peaceful protest against the attacks.
The students, led by their president, Mr Aruna Kadiri, while addressing newsmen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, urged the government to take concrete action to protect Nigerians in South Africa.
The students also demanded that Nigeria should sever ties with South Africa over the incessant attacks of its citizens in that country.
“We are demanding that they should break the ties between both countries if there is any, because the xenophobic attacks that had happened long time ago has come again.
“We have decided to clear the madness with madness,” he said.
He said they had burnt the South African flag at the High Commission to pass a message that “we don’t have relationship with them any longer.”
The protesting students, who issued a 48-hour ultimatum to South African nationals to leave Nigeria, said they were earlier at MTN office in Maitama and MultiChoice in the Central Business District of Abuja to express their grievances.
They also urged the High Commission officials to cancel the dinner organised in honour of Regina Tambo, the co-founder of ANC Youth League.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Clement Aduku, who addressed the protesting students, appealed for calmness, saying the Federal Government was constructively engaging the South African government over the issue.
Aduku also assured that all diplomatic means would be explored to stop the killings of Nigerian nationals in South Africa.
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