A 25-year-old man, John Ator, yesterday narrowly escaped being set ablaze by a mob after being accused of stealing two basins of garri at the popular Marian Market in Calabar, Cross River State.

Ator reportedly took the first basin away but returned to take the second basin when he was accosted by a security man in the market, the NewTelegraphonline reported.

A woman who gave her name simply as Mrs. Okon, said many garri sellers had complained that their goods went missing.

“Many traders have always accused security men at the market of stealing their garri,” Okon said.

“But early this Wednesday morning, the man was caught with a basin of garri and later confessed to having stolen the first basin before coming for the second one. It was when he came for this second one that nemesis caught up with him.

“I think it is because these security men who have been accused of carrying out this act wanted to prove a point that is why they decided to lay an ambush for the man today.

“This ambush has worked and I think other security measures should be taken to secure the market henceforth.”

Ator, who had been thoroughly beaten, was paraded around town with a tyre on his neck.