Tension erupted in Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday as residents expressed outrage over the sudden disappearance of operators from the Global Food Initiative, a scheme designed to provide affordable food items. Many individuals who had deposited substantial amounts of money to purchase these items found themselves waiting in vain at the organization's office, which remained closed.

Among those affected is a resident named Mistura, who reported depositing N300,000 last Wednesday to acquire 11 bags of rice priced at N27,000 each. With the current market price for the same bags soaring to N55,000, Mistura noted that her total loss could amount to N605,000 if the operators fail to return.

Another victim, Olamide, shared her distress after paying N1.2 million for various food items intended for her stepdaughter's upcoming wedding. Olamide had made her payment through a designated account linked to the Global Food Initiative, only to arrive at the office and find a crowd of anxious customers but no operators in sight. "I was warned, but I never thought they would run away this early," she lamented.

Reports indicate that the operators had been running the initiative for just over three weeks, promising participants a six-month operation period. However, panic ensued after a local radio presenter cautioned the public against the scheme, prompting many to rush to the office on Monday to claim their investments. The situation escalated when some individuals attempted to break into the operators' storeroom, leading to a police deployment to maintain order.

Witnesses reported that the operators were present at their office on Monday morning but fled upon seeing the agitated crowd. One anonymous investor mentioned that a woman had deposited N35 million for various food items, while another individual displayed a receipt showing a N10 million deposit.

Osun State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that police personnel were dispatched to the scene to prevent any potential unrest. He stated, "There has not been any report by those affected, but to avoid a breakdown of law and order, police officers have moved to the scene. We are still waiting for somebody to come and give us detailed information about the issue. We are monitoring the situation."

As the community awaits the return of the operators, many residents are left grappling with the financial implications of their investments in what appears to be a fraudulent scheme. The situation continues to develop as authorities work to manage the aftermath of this troubling incident.