On this date last year, Tobias Hombi, a grade 11 Bugandi student died from a bullet wound to his neck allegedly fired from a police firearm during an attempt to disperse Lae Secondary and Bugandi students during a school fight.
Early today, his family and relatives gathered to remember him. His father, Tobias Wama, chose the occasion to make a plea for an end to school fights.
“Tobias death is a big loss to our family. I never thought this would happen to our family”, Mr Wama said.
Tobias mother, Anna, says she want other student’s involved in the school fights to see her son’s death as an example and learn from it.
“The parents are the first teachers…we as the parents are responsible for the discipline of our children”, the deceased mother said.
Tobias died from a bullet wound to his neck, while his friend, Dimas Dobbie suffered injuries to his chest from the same bullet, during this fight, between Bugandi and Lae Secondary school students at Eriku last year.
They were rushed on this bus to Angau Hospital. Tobias died a few minutes later while Dimas recovered from his chest injuries.
The family’s comments come after Friday’s clash between Lae Secondary and Bumayong students. While authorities try to clamp down on student violence, things appear to be spiraling out of control.
And there are pockets of uncertainties if school fights happening in Lae would ever come to an end.
