A 25-year-old man, John Ator, yesterday narrowly escaped being set ablaze by an angry mob after he allegedly stole two basins of garri at the popular Marian Market in Calabar, Cross River State.
Ator ran into trouble at the second largest market in the state capital when he went very early to steal garri from a stall.
He reportedly took the first basin away but returned to take the second basin when he was accosted by a security man in the market.
According to NewTelegraphonline, a woman, who gave her name simply as Mrs. Okon, said many garri sellers had always complained that some people had been stealing their garri. She said:
“Many traders have always accused security men at the market of stealing their garri.
But early this morning (yesterday), this man was caught with a basin of garri and later confessed to have 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 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. It was, however, learnt than some people later rescued him.