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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Hoodlums have looted the premises of the Global Food Initiative in Osogbo, Osun State, following the sudden disappearance of operators of the discounted food scheme.
The hoodlums, who initially gathered at the outlet under the guise of sympathising with victims who had paid for food items that were not delivered, later broke into the store and carted away food items.
The incident occurred at the Odi-Olowo outlet of the initiative, which had attracted hundreds of residents with heavily discounted prices for essential food items.
Speaking with our correspondent yesterday, some affected customers blamed a popular local radio presenter for allegedly triggering panic that led to the collapse of the scheme.
According to the 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 that would eventually 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,” a customer, Tosin, said.
She explained that the broadcast prompted customers to storm the outlet on Monday, demanding either their goods or refunds, even though many of them had been given later dates for collection.
“The 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-load of food items to distribute on Monday, but they could not open the outlet because they feared being lynched,” she said.
Another victim, Tony Edward, appealed to residents not to allow the development to fuel ethnic tension, following rumours about the operator’s Igbo background.
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“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, including rice, semovita, spaghetti and vegetable oil, at prices substantially below prevailing market rates, with customers required to pay in advance.
For instance, the company sold a 50kg bag of rice for N27,000, compared with a market price of between N55,000 and N60,000, while a 25-litre keg of vegetable oil was offered for N30,000, against a prevailing market price of about N65,000.
Customers were reportedly promised collection of their purchases two weeks after payment.
The steep discounts attracted hundreds of residents, including traders who reportedly invested their savings and bought the commodities in bulk for resale.
However, frustration and anxiety gripped customers who gathered outside the locked Odi-Olowo premises after discovering that operations had abruptly stopped, with many fearing that they might have lost their money.
Meanwhile, policemen reportedly stationed themselves in front of the outlet in the morning, apparently to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
However, the officers reportedly left the scene before hoodlums invaded the premises and carted away food items from the store.
The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the operators and the fate of the money paid by customers were unclear as of press time.
