![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?")
A trigger-happy police officer has reportedly shot dead a betting agent identified as Anuoluwapo Abiodun in the Imala/Elega area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Abiodun, a graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, reportedly operated a betting shop in front of a popular hotel in the area and was closing his shop for the day when he was gunned down on Friday night.
An eyewitness who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity alleged that the officers were drunk and coming out of the hotel when one of them shot the deceased.
Our correspondent further gathered that the officers immediately escaped into the hotel and called for backup before they later escaped from the hotel, about three hours later.
“The guy (Abiodun) owned a shop opposite the hotel. The police were chasing someone or on a raid and there was an accidental discharge, the stray bullet hit the guy and the guy died immediately.
“The youths in the area tried to hold down the policemen and they ran into the hotel. They had to reinforce to get more police officers to come and rescue them before they were able to escape later around 11 pm. The incident happened around 8 pm.
“As they (police officers) were trying to disperse the protesting youths, they kept shooting sporadically. In fact, fear gripped everybody,” an eyewitness said.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.
“We are very much aware of the incident and the Commissioner of Police has detailed the SCID to commence investigation,” she said.
