A Nigerian lady, identified on X (formerly Twitter) as @ButterBibi, has raised serious concerns over a reported case involving MTN and unexpected deductions from her mother’s bank account.
According to her post, over ₦70,000 was allegedly withdrawn from her mother’s account, prompting the woman to visit her bank for clarification. During the complaint process, she was reportedly informed that her former MTN phone number had been reassigned to another user, who was allegedly linked to the transactions.
The revelation left the family confused about how sensitive financial activity could still be tied to a recycled phone number. The lady questioned whether such a situation meant that a new user could potentially access personal financial information tied to a previously owned line.
She wrote:
“I don’t understand? If you misplace a number and they reassign it to another person, does that mean the person has access to all your personal details? What is going on with MTN? Can her money be recovered?”
The incident has since sparked widespread debate online about SIM recycling, banking security, and the safety of phone numbers linked to financial accounts.
Reactions Trailing the Allegation
👍 In Support / Believe It Could Happen
Some users argued that such incidents are possible, especially if financial apps or services are still linked to old numbers.
Johnson Adewale stated: “Yes, very possible. Most times people use it for purchasing airtime.”
David Ajah added: “Yes, it is very possible. My elder was receiving alerts of millions on his line and the account didn’t belong to him.”
👎 Opposing / Skeptical Views
Others questioned the claim, insisting that a recycled phone number alone should not grant access to bank funds.
Motunrayo Labake wrote: “That’s a bloody lie. Even if they reassigned the number, did MTN also reassign her PIN for withdrawal?”
🤔 Neutral / Seeking Clarification
A section of users simply raised questions about how the breach could have happened and demanded more clarity.
Muhammadu Tanko asked: “How did the person know your details?”
Growing Concerns
The incident has reignited concerns about SIM recycling policies, bank alert security, and whether users properly disconnect old phone numbers from their financial accounts before switching or losing access.
While MTN has not issued an official statement on the specific claim, the discussion continues to trend as Nigerians debate whether this is a case of telecom lapse, banking vulnerability, or user negligence.
See below….
Published by Ejoh Caleb
