Chaos in Osogbo as Duped Residents Loot Warehouse Over Suspected Food Scheme Fraud

​OSOGBO — Pandemonium broke out in the Osun State capital on Tuesday as angry residents stormed and looted a warehouse operated by the Global Food Initiative located in the Odi-Olowo area.

​The chaotic scene erupted following days of mounting tension after the promoters of a cheap food scheme abruptly disappeared, leaving hundreds of customers who deposited millions of naira stranded and empty-handed.

​The scheme, which drew massive crowds by promising staple food items—such as rice, noodles, and groundnut oil—at prices drastically lower than prevailing market rates, turned out to be an apparent scam. Victims had thronged the facility since Monday following reports that the operators had shut their doors and gone into hiding.

​Among the hardest-hit investors are individuals who poured life savings and event budgets into the arrangement. One victim, Mistura, disclosed that she deposited ₦300,000 last Wednesday for 11 bags of rice, which would have cost ₦605,000 at standard market prices. Another subscriber, Olamide, stated that she paid ₦1.2 million to purchase bulk items meant for her stepdaughter’s upcoming wedding ceremony.

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​Despite early appeals from property owners and local authorities urging the restive crowds to exercise patience and permit security operatives to handle the situation, frustration boiled over by Tuesday afternoon. Defying a heavy downpour, scores of aggrieved individuals forced open the compound’s warehouse and carted away bags of rice, noodles, and vegetable oil.

​Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force deployed to the scene struggled to contain the unruly crowd, firing tear gas canisters into the air in a bid to restore order.

​As of the time of filing this report, security reinforcement remains visible around the area as authorities continue to monitor developments and track down the vanished operators.