ELMONT, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Community leaders in Nassau County and the family of a college student who was the victim of an unprovoked acid attack one year ago Thursday are calling on police to redouble their efforts to find her attacker.
Nafiah Ikram, 22, was walking in the driveway of her parents' Elmont home on March 17, 2021 when someone ran up to her and threw a dark-colored substance on her in a seemingly random attack, leaving her blind in one eye and with severe burns on her face, arms and throat.
"I really, really want to get justice for myself, but also we don't want this to happen to anyone else's child or any other person," Ikram said as she issued a renewed plea to find her attacker.
One year after the attack, no arrests have been made and there have been no leads, despite rewards being offered by both the Nassau County Police Department and the FBI.
"I think that in the beginning they didn't take it seriously, I feel like they just see me as another case," Ikram said, expressing frustration with the investigation. "They went through my social media, my text messages, all of that and they still couldn't find one lead. So that goes to show that either they weren't trying hard enough or this person really is a good hider."
Ikram's parents are also frustrated that police have made little progress on the case.
"With all of the high technology sometimes we feel like maybe the detectives, maybe they didn't take it seriously," her mother said.
"What I learned from day one until now, the police department they really did not do their job," her father said.
Ikram said her year has been filled with fear and pain, and her recovery isn't over.
"It's been very physically painful, mentally exhausting," Ikram said. "I was having nightmares up until this morning."
Ikram still has trouble swallowing because of the attack and doctors remain hopeful they can save her right eye. She had another surgery last week and many plastic surgeries are in her future to try to repair the damage to her face.
The FBI and the Nassau County Police are continuing to actively investigate the case.
“The Nassau County Police continue an intense and comprehensive investigation into the heinous act that took place one year ago when our victim Nafiah Ikram was assaulted with a hazardous substance," Commissioner Patrick Ryder said in a statement. "Numerous interagency resources have been assigned and continue to collaborate to bring the person responsible to justice. Nassau County Crime Stoppers and the FBI have both equally increased their reward to a total of $40,000 for tips that could lead to an arrest of the person(s) responsible. We have continued to work with the Ikram family and urge anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244- TIPS."
Last year, authorities released grainy surveillance video and images of the suspect and vehicle, a red Nissan Altima, involved in the attack.
Ikram, a pre-med student, still wants to become a doctor and has been attending classes virtually at Hofstra University.
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