![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
At least 75 residents were killed and dozens of homes destroyed on Tuesday evening when suspected terrorists attacked Nuku and Woro communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The assault reportedly began around 6pm, according to the Kwara State Police Command. Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the police spokesperson, confirmed that security forces have been deployed to the affected areas, although the exact number of casualties is still being verified amid reports of missing persons.
However, Rauf Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said that no fewer than 75 people were confirmed dead.
He said the victims were moderate Muslims who were killed for “refusing to surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine.”
Governor AbdulRazaq arrived in Kaiama on Wednesday night, accompanied by service chiefs and members of the state executive council, to commiserate with grieving families and assess the scale of destruction.
Tinubu Approves Military Offensive
During the visit, the governor announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the troubled area.
The troops will lead a counter-offensive operation codenamed “Operation Savannah Shield”, aimed at flushing out terrorists and restoring calm in the communities.
AbdulRazaq condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly assault on innocent civilians,” and warned that the state would not become a safe haven for extremists.
He added that the violence appeared to be an attempt to divert security attention from ongoing counterterrorism operations in other parts of the state.
Growing Security Threat
The attack comes amid renewed security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, following Washington’s confirmation that a “small team” of US troops has been deployed to Nigeria.
Dagvin Anderson, head of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday — the first public acknowledgement of US troops operating in Nigeria since missile strikes were authorised against terrorist targets in Sokoto during the Trump administration.
While bandit groups, historically active in the North-West, have expanded into Kwara and neighbouring Niger State, jihadist factions linked to Boko Haram splinter groups have also intensified attacks, often targeting rural communities, markets and vigilante groups.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
