Move to dispel phone hang-up

Nigeria’s government has been forced to reassure people in Africa’s most populous nation that a phone call can’t kill them.

A text message has spread across the oil-rich country in recent days, warning that people will die if they answer mobile phone calls from 09141. The widespread fear forced the Nigerian Communications Commission to issue a statement saying it is “unimaginable that somebody will die while receiving a call”.

Commission spokesman Reuben Muoka said: “It is only very gullible people that will believe such a rumour”.

Text message panics in this nation of 155 million have included rumours that acid rain from dust storms can burn people alive.