Liberia is grappling with a shortage of rice, causing panic-buying and anxiety.
The country's staple started disappearing from shops and marketplaces several weeks ago, prompting hundreds of desperate rice retailers and consumers in the capital, Monrovia, to spend days and nights in queues to scoop small quantities of the commodity from the warehouse of a foreign company that still has a small consignment.
Some of them have gone on to profiteer, reselling the commodity at skyrocketing prices.
Police have been deployed to assist the company’s security, as crowds of anxious people try to force their way into its premises.
As the crisis continues, large-scale buyers say they are being compelled by the company to also buy unrelated goods they do not need.
The shortage seems the worst in recent years and the tales of the visibly frustrated buyers in queues are similar.
Many told the BBC they had spent days sleeping around the company’s premises and had had their money stolen by thieves infiltrating the crowd.
Some people have fainted while others sustained injuries in a stampede to the warehouse.
A spokesman for the company, Fouani Brothers Corporation, said a worse shortage was on the horizon.
James Doe Gibson told the BBC its current stock would "last for about two weeks".
President George Weah has said he does not believe that there is a rice shortage as importers had told him they had rice to last up to next year.
But he said he would look into the matter, urging people not to "listen to the noise in the streets".
Liberia spends about $200m (£189m) each year on importing rice.
Latest Stories
-
PSG clinch Ligue 1 title after Lyon’s win over Monaco
4 mins -
Guinness Ghana sets the pace at Ghana Beverage Awards with six awards
24 mins -
Burkina Faso suspends BBC, VOA radio broadcasts over killings coverage
29 mins -
Nicole Kidman honoured with AFI Life Achievement Award
41 mins -
Brassier scores winner for Brest as they edge Rennes to secure European football
1 hour -
Ejisu by-election: Akufo-Addo jabs independent candidate; refutes allegations to rig elections
1 hour -
‘What are the real causes of the erratic power outages?’ GUTA demands from ECG
1 hour -
Implementing ESG framework in Ghana’s energy sector for sustainability
2 hours -
CAFCC: Dreams FC exit competition after 3-0 defeat in Kumasi
2 hours -
The detrimental effects of political interference on Ghana’s electricity sustainability
2 hours -
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s appointment as running mate intimidates the NPP – Benjamin Quashie
2 hours -
Black Stars physical trainer dead
2 hours -
Bawumia to kick off nationwide campaign for Election 2024 tomorrow
2 hours -
GUTA charges ECG to provide ‘dumsor’ timetable for businesses to plan
2 hours -
Reason for training professional counsellors is to heal a hurting world – CCP president
4 hours