Many residents on Tuesday stormed the Odi-Olowo, Osogbo, office of the Global Food Initiative and looted the warehouse where food items were kept by the operators of the scheme.

The development followed an earlier report by PUNCH Online on the tension in Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday, after operators of the cheap food scheme disappeared, leaving residents who had paid various sums for food items stranded.

On Monday, many residents who had deposited money for the purchase of food items at prices below prevailing market rates gathered at the organisation’s office in the Odi-Olowo area of Osogbo, waiting for the operators to open for business.

A resident, identified simply as Mistura, told PUNCH Metro that she deposited N300,000 last Wednesday to purchase 11 bags of rice at N27,000 per bag.

Mistura said the items were usually due for collection one week after payment, adding that the 11 bags of rice would have cost her N605,000 at the prevailing market price of N55,000 per bag.

Another investor, Olamide, said she paid N1.2m for various food items she intended to use for the forthcoming wedding ceremony of her stepdaughter.

“I got here this morning and met a crowd waiting to be attended to, 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 to be used for my stepdaughter’s wedding ceremony,” she said.

On Tuesday, several residents who had paid for food items converged on the operators’ office, waiting for them to resume operations.

Despite pleas by the owner of the building for the crowd to exercise patience and allow security agents to identify the operators and work out measures to recoup the funds deposited, the agitated residents refused to leave the premises.

However, about 4pm on Tuesday, some people forced open the operators’ warehouse and looted food items, including bags of rice, noodles and groundnut oil.

PUNCH Online reports that those involved in the looting defied the heavy downpour, while a handful of police operatives on the ground battled to keep the situation under control.

As of the time of filing this report, the looting was still ongoing, with security agents firing canisters to disperse the crowd.

Source: punchng.com

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The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects and recovered 25 Automated Teller Machine cards, three firearms and two suspected stolen vehicles during an 11-day security operation across the state.

The command said the ATM cards were recovered from a 45-year-old man, Ameachine Anthony, who was arrested in Igbesa over an alleged N2.5m fraud.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the arrests and recoveries were recorded between September 16 and 26, 2026.

According to him, the operations involved personnel from various police divisions and the Special Weapons and Tactics unit of the command.

Babaseyi said the police investigation into Anthony’s activities revealed an alleged scheme involving the use of utility bills and newly acquired SIM cards through associates to facilitate the opening of bank accounts.

He alleged that the ATM cards were subsequently collected for fraudulent transactions.

Several mobile phones were also recovered from the suspect, who, alongside the exhibits, was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

In another operation, SWAT Base 7, Abule-Iroko, arrested three suspects after intercepting an unregistered tricycle and a TVS motorcycle around Dalemo, Ota, on September 21.

The suspects were identified as Olamide Ayandele, 30; Tope Samuel, 40; and Ayo Peter Ojo, 30.

The command said preliminary investigation linked them to alleged vehicle theft around the Ijoko axis.

Also, SWAT operatives arrested a suspected cult member, Peter Olanrewaju, 34, on September 22, following information about a suspected cult gathering.

Babaseyi said further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adebayo Sodiq, 36, while one pump-action rifle and two locally made pistols were recovered.

He said investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the possession of the firearms and identify other persons allegedly connected with the case.

Similarly, detectives attached to the Owode Egba Division recovered a stolen commercial TVS motorcycle at Mokoloki Village on September 17, following a complaint lodged the previous day.

Two suspects, Rasheed Abdul and Saula Meshinoye, were arrested in connection with the alleged theft, while their alleged accomplice, Saheed, remained at large.

In the Olorunda area, two suspects, Mutiu Gafar, 19, and Fatai Obasanmi, 37, were arrested after three people were allegedly intercepted conveying stolen electrical materials on a motorcycle along Ayetoro Road on September 19.

The police recovered bundles of electrical wiring, a change-over electrical box and a circuit breaker box, while another suspect, identified as Tosin, reportedly escaped.

The command also recovered a Safira vehicle allegedly taken from its owner and arrested a suspect, Olatunji Olalekan.

Babaseyi said the vehicle was recovered by detectives attached to the Ijebu-Ode Area Crime Office following discreet investigation, intelligence gathering and tracking.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Sagamu Area Command and adjoining divisions impounded eight vehicles during a “No Parking” enforcement operation around the Sagamu Interchange Bridge on September 26.

The police said the vehicles were impounded for allegedly obstructing the highway, adding that the exercise was aimed at facilitating free traffic flow and improving safety for road users.

The affected vehicles, according to the command, would be processed for prosecution on September 28.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers for their vigilance and professionalism and appreciated members of the public for their cooperation.

Ojajuni urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to the police, reaffirming the command’s commitment to proactive policing across the state.

The command urged residents requiring police assistance or wishing to report security concerns to use the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or the emergency numbers 09164859299 and 09154293464.

Source: punchng.com

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