A fire outbreak has destroyed goods and properties worth millions of naira at the Creek Road Market section relocated to Number Three Field in Old Port Harcourt Township, Rivers State.
The inferno, which occurred on Wednesday night, left several traders counting their losses as affected shop owners assessed the extent of the damage.
The cause of the fire was yet to be officially established as of the time of filing this report, while traders and eyewitnesses expressed shock over the incident.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, who visited the scene, sympathised with the affected traders and assured them of government support.
Ihunda said the local government would constitute a committee to assess the extent of the damage and identify the affected traders and shops.
He said, “We are here on behalf of the Port Harcourt City. This morning, my attention was drawn to the fire incident that occurred here last night. We sympathise with you; it is a most unfortunate situation.
“Nobody prays for this kind of incident, but we thank God that no lives were lost, and that is the most important thing. Properties can be replaced over time.
“As a government, we have come to see the place and we assure you that we are going to set up a committee that will do a proper assessment of the losses and shops and traders that were affected.
“Then, we would see what we can do as soon as possible to support traders affected so they can go back to business.”
No death was reported in the incident as of the time of filing the report.