From Moshood Karim
Outrage has erupted in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government of Edo State, after a man allegedly absconded with over ₦20 million from more than 1,000 unsuspecting residents, following a rice sales scam that has shocked the local community and drawn national attention.
The suspect, whose identity remains unknown, reportedly opened a rice shop in the area and began selling 50kg bags of rice at the unusually low price of ₦20,000, well below prevailing market rates. Eyewitnesses say he successfully sold over 100 bags to initial buyers, convincing many that the deal was legitimate.
Buoyed by this early display of trust, the vendor encouraged others to pre-order rice at the same discounted rate, claiming a fresh consignment was on the way. Within a short period, over 1,000 people reportedly paid him in advance, each sending ₦20,000 to secure their bags.
However, chaos ensued the following morning when hopeful buyers returned to the shop — only to find it shuttered and the vendor nowhere to be found.
The incident came to wider public notice after a user on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), @KunnujiC, shared the story in a now-viral post:
“So one guy opened a shop in Auchi selling a bag of rice for ₦20k and after finishing the stock, he collected over 1,000 people’s demand of ₦20k each order to bring them more bags of rice. This morning, as people woke up, bros don run… This is not format but wickedness.”
The post has sparked intense debate online, with many Nigerians expressing frustration over the growing wave of fraudulent schemes, particularly in a period of economic hardship marked by rising food prices and inflation.
“This is wickedness of the highest order,” one commenter wrote. “People are trying to survive, and others are taking advantage of their desperation.”
Another user lamented the lack of regulation: “This is why we need better consumer protection laws. Scammers are getting smarter, and the authorities are barely catching up.”
At the time of filing this report, Edo State authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, concerned residents are calling for swift action from security agencies to investigate the fraud and bring the perpetrator to justice.
Local sources told Uptown Press that, some victims have already begun filing reports with the police, while others have taken to social media to share their experiences and warn others to be cautious of similar scams.