Residents Loot Food Warehouse After Cheap Food Scheme Operators Disappear

Several residents on Tuesday stormed the Odi-Olowo office of the Global Food Initiative in Osogbo, Osun State, and looted food items stored in the organisation’s warehouse.

The incident followed growing tension after operators of the cheap food scheme reportedly disappeared, leaving residents who had paid for food items stranded.

The development came after residents had gathered at the organisation’s office on Monday, waiting for the operators to resume operations and provide food items they had paid for at prices below the prevailing market rates.

One resident, identified as Mistura, told Star Potter that she paid ₦300,000 last Wednesday for 11 bags of rice at ₦27,000 per bag.

According to her, customers were normally expected to collect their items one week after payment. She said purchasing the same quantity at the prevailing market price of about ₦55,000 per bag would have cost her ₦605,000.

Another resident, Olamide, said she paid ₦1.2 million for various food items intended for her stepdaughter’s forthcoming wedding.

She said she arrived at the office on Monday and met several other customers waiting, but the operators were nowhere to be found.

“I was warned, but I never thought they would run away this early. The items I paid for were meant for my stepdaughter’s wedding ceremony,” she said.

On Tuesday, more residents who had made payments returned to the office, hoping the operators would show up and address the situation.

Despite appeals from the building owner for the crowd to remain calm while security personnel worked to identify the operators and explore ways of recovering the money paid by customers, the protesters refused to leave.

At about 4 p.m., some members of the crowd reportedly forced their way into the warehouse and began removing food items, including bags of rice, noodles and groundnut oil.

The looting continued despite heavy rainfall, while a limited number of police officers at the scene struggled to control the crowd.

As of the time of filing this report, the situation remained tense, with security operatives reportedly using tear-gas canisters in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Source: https://x.com/Starpotternews/status/2104980720447893834