**Nigerians Anger Grows as Investment App Locks Out Customers**

Amid Nigeria's economic struggles, frustrated investors on the CBEX platform have vented their despair on social media after being locked out of accounts, prompting riots in protest of potential losses.

Angry users of the digital investment platform CBEX have taken to social media to express their outrage after being barred from accessing their accounts. Many have posted emotional videos detailing their inability to withdraw funds, fueling fears about the safety of their investments. The situation escalated on Monday when frustrated clients stormed a CBEX office in Ibadan, violently taking equipment as tensions ran high.

CBEX, which had promoted the enticing offer of doubling investments monthly, has yet to address the issue publicly. In a landscape where the Nigerian economy is struggling, countless individuals are seeking alternative income streams, making the freezing of their funds particularly distressing. An investor named Ola shared his heartbreak with BBC Pidgin: "I was ready to withdraw all my investment just last week, but I was advised to wait - and now it’s gone."

Additional reports surfaced of users losing significant amounts, with one person claiming to have lost $16,000. The disruption first emerged over the weekend, but by Monday, the situation had intensified with clients still unable to access their money. Some investors who reached out to CBEX via Telegram received responses indicating a hacking incident as the cause, assuring them that issues would be resolved soon.

Despite the turmoil, Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not responded to media inquiries regarding the incident. However, they have previously cautioned citizens about the hazards of unregulated digital investments that can often resemble Ponzi schemes. Many now recall the painful collapse of another platform, MMM, in 2016, which left a lasting impact on investors when it abruptly halted withdrawals.