Osun: Looting hit Osogbo food scheme as operators flee

Following the sudden disappearance of the operators of the discounted food schemey, Global Food Initiative in Osogbo, Osun state, hoodlums have invaded the store and carted away food items.

The hoodlums were spotted at the outlet under the guise of sympathizing with victims whose items were not supplied before the disappearance of the operators.

The broke into the store, having noticed that security vehicle had left the place.

Several residents who spoke to our Correspondent, Tuesday, blamed a popular local radio anchor for triggering the collapse of the scheme.

According to affected customers, the presenter, who heads a private radio station in Osogbo, had warned listeners during a broadcast on Sunday that the initiative was a scam destined to collapse, predicting that its operators would flee.

“When the presenter announced on the radio that the operators would soon run away, it sparked panic and apprehension,” explained a customer who identified herself as Tosin.

She said, “That panic drove people to storm the outlet on Monday demanding their goods or money, well before their scheduled pickup dates.

“The operators actually brought a trailer full of food items to distribute on Monday, but they couldn’t open because they feared being lynched,” Tosin said.

Another victim, Tony Edward, urged people not to stoke ethnic tension over the incident, as rumors began circulating regarding the operator’s Igbo heritage.

“I am an Igbo man myself and I invested millions of naira in this scheme—I wasn’t spared either,” Edward said.

Another buyer, identified as Anosike, displayed receipts for unfulfilled orders marked “not yet supplied.”

The Global Food Initiative had attracted massive patronage across the state by offering essential food items, such as rice, semovita, spaghetti, and vegetable oil, at rates drastically below market prices, provided customers paid in advance.

For instance, the company offered a 50kg bag of rice for N27,000 (compared to the market rate of N55,000 to N60,000) and a 25-liter keg of cooking oil for N30,000 (against the prevailing market price of N65,000), with a promised pickup date two weeks after payment.

The steep discounts led hundreds of residents, including local traders who bought in bulk for resale, to invest their savings in the scheme.

Frustration and grief swept through the crowd outside the locked Odi-Olowo premises as frantic customers realized operations had ground to a halt without warning, leaving many fearing that their money is lost for good.

It was however observed that some customers had left the place before the invasion by the hoodlums.