By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—Fire has razed parts of the New Layout Market on Churchill Road area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Most of the traders, who spoke to Vanguard, said they could not save their wares. They blamed saboteurs for the fire.

Some of the traders said they were at home, after closing for the day, when they got calls that the market was on fire on Tuesday night.

One trader said: “When I got there, I saw people battling to put out the fire. Some were rescuing their things. I was helpless because my stall had been consumed.”

Another trader, said that the fire started at 8p.m., Tuesday night, adding that about 80 shops were destroyed by the inferno.

Residents around the market wondered why the market had often been affected by fire incidences.

According to Mr. Philip Uzor, a resident, there was fire on the market about two years ago, noting that traders should look for a way out of the reoccurring problem.

The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Dickson Umunakwe, said the state government had set up a team to look into the cause of the fire and make recommendations.