Adeleke gifts phone vendor N20m after shop robbery in Ilesa

By Damilola Akinwale –

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has lent a helping hand to an Ilesa-based phone vendor whose video went viral after reporting a devastating robbery at his shop and pleading with Nigerians to help him recover his losses.

The businessman, whose video circulated online on Thursday, was seen in a distressed state after discovering the robbery. Thieves reportedly broke into the shop and carted away phones, money and other gadgets, leaving only a few phone pouches and chargers behind.

According to him, the shop had a bunker and a safe, but the thieves still managed to gain access to the premises and steal the valuables inside. Overwhelmed by the loss, the vendor appealed to Nigerians for help, asking members of the public to assist in identifying those responsible for the theft.

He also appealed for financial assistance, explaining that some customers had already paid for phones that were yet to be delivered, leaving him with the responsibility of either refunding them or replacing the stolen phones. He added that the loss was particularly painful because the business was his only source of livelihood, disclosing that he had sold his land to raise money for the business.

The vendor’s story later caught the attention of fellow TikToker, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, who reportedly brought the matter to the governor, prompting him to assist the vendor with N20 million to recover his losses.

In a new video circulating on Friday, the vendor expressed gratitude to Olajengbesi, who used his TikTok platform to draw the governor’s attention to the incident. He also expressed deep gratitude for the governor’s gesture while displaying the credit alert online.

The visibly excited vendor subsequently appealed to netizens to join him in appreciating the governor for the financial support following the loss.

Olajengbesi revealed that an additional N10 million would be given to other shop owners who were robbed in the area.