Follow Us on Google
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Panic has gripped residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, following the abrupt closure of a major food distribution company and the total disconnection of its suppliers’ phone lines.
The company had attracted widespread patronage by offering essential food items, including rice, cooking oil, spaghetti, and semovita, at prices significantly below prevailing market rates, provided customers paid in advance.
Under the scheme, customers deposited N25,000 with the promise of picking up a bag of rice two weeks later. A bag of rice sells between N55,000 and N60,000 in Osogbo.
The discounted rates quickly drew hundreds of eager buyers across the city.
However, hundreds of frantic customers gathered at the company’s Odi-Olowo premises on Monday after operations suddenly ground to a halt without warning.
Investigations revealed that local traders invested heavily in the scheme, purchasing bulk packages to resell at retail prices for higher profits.
Grief and frustration swept through the crowd outside the locked premises as victims struggled to comprehend the sudden shutdown, with many fearing their life savings and advance payments are gone for good.
