Residents warned over drinking

NATIONAL Capital District Met Supt Gideon Ikumu has cautioned residents in NCD to control their drinking.
He said this after five men were arrested by police for allegedly instigating a fight that led to a confrontation between settlers at the Manuti settlement at 6-Mile.
The settlement is located at the end of the Jackson Airport tarmac.
According to police, the five men who were allegedly drunk, demanded money from a public motor vehicle (PMV) bus, before smashing the glass windows.
The PMV left the scene but returned with truck-loads of armed men who allegedly stormed a market place.
Residents at the Manuti settlement reportedly fled as the marauding group ransacked the market and took valuables as well as setting several houses on fire.
The settlers re-grouped and clashed with the raiders, but police intervened and stopped the fighting.
Supt Ikumu said police comprising members of fox unit 301, fox 300, fox 203, criminial investigation division motor squad, sierra alpha two Charlie and a mobile squad unit were dispatched to stop the fighting.
He said peace mediators in the area and community leaders would meet next week to discuss ways of maintaining peace and good order at the settlement.
Supt Ikumu cautioned residents in NCD to control their drinking habits by being responsible.
He said people who could not control themselves after drinking alcohol needed to stop drinking or limit their consumption because they were a threat to themselves, their families, friends, tribesmen and the entire community.
“The constant fighting in settlements across the city is compelling me to make this call,” he said.
“Alcohol is meant to be enjoyed socially, not to a point where brawls escalate, people are injured and killed and valuable properties are destroyed.
“If you cannot control your drinking habits, then stop it.”
Supt Ikumu said some police operational measures would be put in place to deal with liquor-related violence in the city.