A substitute teacher who was fired by the Department of Education earlier this month after he allegedly yanked off an 8-year-old student's hijab at a Bronx elementary school has been charged with a hate crime, according to police.
The NYPD says 31-year-old Oghenetega Edah surrendered to police yesterday afternoon and will be charged with endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated harassment as a hate crime, stemming from the May 2nd incident. Edah, who was subbing at PS 76, The Bennington School in Allerton that day, allegedly told the young girl to move out of his chair in class; when she didn't move fast enough, he allegedly ripped off her hijab, injuring her right eye. She did not sustain a permanent injury, though she was taken to Jacobi Hospital to get checked out.
The DOE fired Edah, who previously had a clean disciplinary record, on May 3rd. "This alleged behavior is completely unacceptable," spokesman Michael Aciman said in a statement. "This individual was removed from the school immediately and his employment has been terminated."
Edah is currently awaiting arraignment.
