RESIDENTS living in illegal settlements in the National Capital District (NCD) have been warned that failure to abide by the law will result in their forcible eviction from the city.
Acting NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang issued this warning at the 8mile Settlement residents during an open mediation on Sunday, following an incident on October 16 that left one man dead and several others injured.
Supt Rubiang cautioned the settlers that they are living on land that does not belong to them, and if they continue to engage in fights or create law-and-order problems, they will be removed.
He acknowledged the hardships faced by people relocating to the city from their home provinces in search of better opportunities but emphasized the need to obey the law.
According to Supt Rubiang, a significant portion of the city’s law-and-order issues stems from the residents of these settlements.
He referenced police records and input from Moresby North East MP John Kaupa and Senior Inspector Gabriel Kini of Gordons Police Station, confirming that Eight Mile is among the settlements with the highest rates of law-and-order problems.
Supt Rubiang indicated that it is time for the police to start evicting those occupying state land without proper titles.
Senior Inspector Gabriel Kini supported this, stating that as more people move from villages to the city, law-and-order problems tend to increase.
He reiterated that the police will now use force to remove those illegally settling on state land, as they pose a threat to public order.
MP John Kaupa, who was also present to mediate and help restore calm after the October 16 conflict, warned that residents must behave or face eviction.
The fight, which involved Marawaka tribesmen and a mixed group from other provinces, started after a Marawaka man was caught stealing from a church and several homes.
The man was severely beaten by the victims but was rescued by police and taken to the hospital. He later escaped and returned to his settlement, where his tribesmen confronted those, he had stolen from, demanding compensation.
When no resolution was reached, the Marawaka group, armed with bows and arrows, initiated a fight on Wednesday, resulting in the death of one of their own.
