Tunde Adeleke, Osogbo
Hundreds of residents of Osogbo, Osun State, were thrown into panic and uncertainty on Monday following the sudden closure of a food distribution company which allegedly collected advance payments from customers for food items sold at prices far below prevailing market rates.
The company, located in the Odi-Olowo area of Osogbo, had reportedly attracted a large number of customers in recent months with offers of rice, cooking oil, spaghetti, semovita and other food items at unusually low prices.
The sudden closure of the business, however, left several customers distraught over the fate of their money, with some claiming to have paid millions of naira for food packages they were yet to receive.
Our correspondent who visited the premises on Monday, observed an affected customer, who was said to have paid N15 million for food items, reportedly fainted at the premises after discovering that the company had closed its office.
One of the customer, simply identified as Toluwase paid N150,000 for the purchase of 3 bag of Rice, 5 kegs of five liter oil, 2 carton of spaghetti, and one carton of indomine.
Another customer, Kazeem Rukayat also paid about 10,000 for a pack of spaghetti, with several others alleging payments of varying amounts.
The total amount allegedly collected by the company could not, however, be independently verified as of press time.
A customer simply identified as Iya Ibeji said the company had told buyers to make payments upfront and return after about seven days to collect their food packages.
The business reportedly gained more patronage after some of its early customers allegedly received the food items they had paid for, prompting them to recommend the scheme to relatives, friends and business associates.
It was gathered that the development attracted traders, business owners and others involved in the wholesale sale of food items, many of whom were said to have placed orders in large quantities because of the advertised prices.
A flier circulated by the company advertised several food items at prices that appeared considerably lower than prevailing market rates.
The advertised items included a “50kg bag of rice for N27,000; five litres of Golden Terra groundnut oil for N8,000; 25 litres of Kings Oil for N30,000; 10kg of Golden Penny semovita for N8,000; a packet of Golden Penny spaghetti for N10,000; and a carton of Terra Gold seasoning cubes for N12,000. a “Super Pack” for N7,000.”
Following the circulation of the flier, residents were said to have trooped to the company’s premises to book for various food packages and make advance payments.
Trouble was, however, said to have started when some customers who had paid for their orders waited beyond the stipulated seven-day period without receiving their packages or further communication from the company.
Worried by the development, the affected customers reportedly besieged the company’s disclosed office address on Monday, only to find the premises closed and apparently emptied.
Security personnel, including police officers reportedly deployed in several trucks, were present at the scene to maintain order as the aggrieved customers demanded answers.
Some of the affected residents called on the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sudden closure and determine the whereabouts of the company’s operators.
They also appealed for urgent steps to recover their money if it is established that the payments were unlawfully collected.
For a better society
_______________________________
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
