![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 "Anthony Odiong: Nigerian Catholic priest sentenced to life in prison over sexual assault")
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command, in a decoy operation, arrested eight members of a kidnapping syndicate operating in Oghara, Sapele, Warri, and environs.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, and posted on its official X handle on Thursday.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, asked officers in the decoy squad to use all technically generated intelligence to apprehend the criminals after receiving information about a 43-year-old woman who was abducted and paid a N2 million ransom for her release.
The statement read, “The command received information relating to the kidnapping of a 43-year-old woman (name withheld), who was kidnapped by a syndicate of armed men in a tricycle along Shell Road Sapele on November 19, 2023, at about 2100 hours, while driving in her ML-350 Mercedez Benz.
“The victim was taken in her vehicle, and until the vehicle ran out of fuel, they moved her into their operational tricycle. She was released on November 22, 2023, upon payment of a N2 million ransom.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, detailed the operatives of the CP-Decoy Squad, led by the commander, ASP Julius Robinson, directing that they utilize all technically generated intelligence to get the perpetrators of the act.
“Consequently, on November 25, 2023, the team embarked on a sting operation assisted by the DPO Sapele, which led to the arrest of the syndicate’s gang leader, Morrison Godwin, a 41-year-old male suspect from Okpara Water Side Community in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State at Amukpe Area of Sapele Town at about 1100 hours of the same date.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and revealed an intended meeting with other gang members to strategize on another kidnapping operation.
“Armed with this information, the team laid an ambush at their meeting point on November 27, 2023, and arrested the other gang members, viz: Raymond Etchie’m’ 46 years old, who negotiated and received the said ransom; Felix Okoro’m’ 40 years old, who is one of the syndicate’s operational drivers; Oghene Ogaga Sylvester’m’ 45 years old, who guarded the victim; Henry Edeki’m’ 35 years old; Ominike Sunday’m’ 23 years old; Jerusalem Sunday’m’ 35 years old; and Theophilus Akpofi’m” 9 years old.”
According to the statement, all of the suspects confessed to the crime, admitting their various roles, and were recognized by the victim.
During questioning, the suspects also revealed the location of the victim’s vehicle, which was later discovered in Oghara Town, and efforts are being made to retrieve the syndicate’s operational weaponry.
The state commissioner of police praised the decoy squad for their diligence in apprehending the kidnappers.
He also informed the public that more accomplishments are on the way as the command works to safeguard Delta State’s collective safety.
![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 "Anthony Odiong: Nigerian Catholic priest sentenced to life in prison over sexual assault")
