Woman dies after being set on fire on NYC subway

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Woman dies after being set on fire on NYC subway

A man has been arrested in New York in connection with the death of a woman who was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident on Sunday as “one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being”.

She said the woman was on a stationary F train to Brooklyn when she was approached by a man who used a lighter to ignite her clothing.

The victim died at the scene, she said, adding that the suspect had been arrested following a tip-off from a group of high school students as he rode the subway later on Sunday.

Police said the woman, who has not been named, was in a subway carriage at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn at about 07:30 local time (12:30 GMT) when a man approached her.

Officers said she was “motionless” when she was set on fire, but detectives were still establishing whether the victim was asleep.

There was no interaction before the attack, police said, adding that they did not believe the two 1people knew each other.

The man got off the train as police officers on patrol in the station rushed to the fire.

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“Officers were on patrol on an upper level of that station, smelled and saw smoke and went to investigate,” Ms Tisch said.

“What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames.”

Police are still working to identify the victim and the motive for the attack.

“Unbeknownst to the officers who responded, the suspect had stayed on the scene and was seated on a bench on the platform just outside the train car,” Ms Tisch added.

She explained police were then able to get a “very clear, detailed” look at the man from the responding officers’ body worn cameras.

The images were disseminated by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Later, three high school-aged New Yorkers called 911 to report they recognised the suspect on another train, Ms Tisch told reporters.

The man was then located after officers boarded the train and walked through the subway carriages.

He was arrested at Herald Square station – which is located in near to the Empire State Building in Manhattan.

He was found with a lighter in his pocket, Ms Tisch said.

“I want to thank the young people who called 911 to help,” the police commissioner added.

“They saw something, they said something and they did something.”

Woman dies after being set on fire on NYC subway

Abuja: After pleading guilty, cybercrime suspect begs to change plea

Published

22 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

Trends Admin

Abuja: After pleading guilty, cybercrime suspect begs to change plea

There was a mild drama at a Federal High Court in Abuja as a suspect begged to retake his plea after pleading guilty to the two-count charge read to him.

The suspect, Adun Adewale, also known as “Coachbanter,” was arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on alleged cybercrime offence against Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the I-G had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/634/2024, sued Adewale as sole defendant.

In the charge filed on Dec. 17 by A.A. Egwu, the defendant was alleged to have, sometime in 2024, intentionally sent video recording by means of computer system and network through his Tiktok username: “@brodabanter_backup_page” and handle “CoachBanter.”

Adewale was alleged to have said in the said video, “Police IG Egbetokun busted for colluding with notorious cartel moving cash from CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) vault via Abuja, Lagos airport.”

The statement he knew to be false, “for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order.”

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The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

In count two, he was also alleged to have sent a video through his Tiktok username accusing Egbetokun of victimising police officers to shield members of a cartel notorious for hauling suspicious new bank notes from the CBN.

The statement, which was said to be false, was contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Upon resumed hearing, the I-G’s counsel, Victor Okoye, told the court that the matter was slated for the arraignment of the defendant and that he was ready to proceed.

After count one was read to Adewale, he pleaded guilty.

When the registrar read count two, the defendant said: “I pleaded guilty with reason.”

“What is the reason?” Justice Nwite asked.

Adewale explained from the dock that he saw the post somewhere and he forwarded it to his page.

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His lawyer, O.A Olaleye, therefore, prayed the court for a stand down in order to confer with his client.

Although Okoye opposed the application, the judge stood down the matter in the interest of justice.

After the court reconvened, Adewale’s lawyer told the court that he had discussion with his client and Adewale told him that he (defendant) did not understand the charge read to him.

Based on this premise, the lawyer prayed the court for the charge to be read again for his client to take his plea.

But Okoye vehemently opposed the application.

He argued that before Adewale took his plea, he was asked if he understood English Language and he responded in affirmative.

The prosecutor said besides, the defendant was represented by a lawyer.

He said the law is clear that when a defendant understands the charge read to him, it does not behove on the lawyer to persuade the defendant to change his plea.

Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 30 for the parties to address the court on the position of law in such instance.

Abuja: After pleading guilty, cybercrime suspect begs to change plea

(NAN)

metro

Eight dead as truck crashes into passenger vehicle in Abia

Published

27 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

Trends Admin

Eight dead as truck crashes into passenger vehicle in Abia

Eight people have been confirmed dead while two others were injured in an accident involving a loaded trailer and Sharon Volkswagen vehicle along the Bende-Ohafia Road of Abia State.

The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the crash involved a trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board in a statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia.

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According to FRSC, the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.

“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.

“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.

Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding.

Eight dead as truck crashes into passenger vehicle in Abia

(NAN)

metro

FG repatriates 403 stranded Nigerian migrants from Niger Republic

Published

33 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

Trends Admin

FG repatriates 403 stranded Nigerian migrants from Niger Republic

The federal government has successfully repatriated 403 Nigerian migrants stranded in the Niger Republic, according to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).

The returnees arrived on Saturday, including 165 males, 56 females, and 182 children and infants. Their return was facilitated through a coordinated multi-agency effort involving the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This operation marks the second batch of voluntary returns from the Niger Republic within the week, following the repatriation of 310 individuals on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. In total, 713 Nigerians have been returned to the country in the past week.

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At the reception ceremony, Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, represented by the Kano State Coordinator, Mrs. Lubah Liman, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees into various initiatives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Ahmed praised the seamless collaboration among agencies that ensured the operation’s success.

He highlighted the federal government’s dedication to the safe and dignified return of Nigerians stranded abroad and stressed the importance of multi-agency cooperation in tackling migration challenges.