ACP Chief Superintendent Benjamin Turi has issued a warning to residents of Tete Settlement and the Erima Wildlife area in Port Moresby to vacate their homes, confirming that long-standing court-ordered evictions will be enforced at any time.
The eviction orders affect settlers living at Tete Settlement in the Moresby Northwest Electorate, particularly those in the front area near the field and those residing along the ridge in the Erima Wildlife area overlooking the Golf Course in Moresby Northeast.
Chief Superintendent Turi said the affected residents had already been informed of the situation over several years, following court decisions dating back to 2018 and 2019, which ruled against the settlers.
He explained that while police will carry out further awareness in the affected communities, all legal processes have been completed, and eviction orders are now in place.
“Those who represented you in court regarding this land court case lost the court battle, so I would appreciate it if our citizens residing in these mentioned locations start to move out immediately because eviction will take place at any time from now. It is best that you leave, or the machines will move you out,” Turi said.
Police say the evictions are being carried out in accordance with court directives and requests from legitimate landowners, with officers tasked to ensure the process is conducted lawfully.
Turi also reminded city residents that occupying land without legal ownership places them at risk of eviction, stressing the importance of proper land documentation.
“On that note, I want the city residents to take note that if you want to reside in any areas in the city, you must have land titles to settle. If you do not, then you are illegal settlers in the city because the NCDC, the government, and others who have titles are the genuine landowners, so they can carry out evictions when people purchase land or want to develop that area,” he said.
He added that police have limited discretion in such matters, as their role is to enforce court orders and directives issued by authorities.
Beyond the immediate evictions, Turi urged individuals planning to move into Port Moresby to prepare adequately before arriving in the city.
He said people should have clear arrangements on where they will stay, who they will live with, and what plans they have in place should circumstances change.
With eviction orders now confirmed and enforcement imminent, authorities are urging affected residents to relocate voluntarily to avoid forced removals, as police continue to uphold court decisions and land ownership laws in the capital.
