![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 "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the abduction of over 100 worshippers in the Kurmin Wali community in the Kajuru LGA of Kaduna state, 24 hours after denying the report.
On Sunday, gunmen attacked three churches in the community and whisked away about 167 worshippers.
However, on Monday, the Kaduna police command dismissed the report as a falsehood spread by “conflict entrepreneurs” seeking to disrupt the state’s relative peace.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kaduna, Muhammad Rabiu, the state’s commissioner of police, challenged those spreading the reports to provide names and details of the victims, insisting that there was no record of such abductions.
Following police denial, Christian Solidarity Worldwide–Nigeria (CSW-N), a human rights group, said the abductions took place and accused security operatives of obstructing efforts to independently verify the incident.
The group accused security personnel of preventing its team from accessing the community during a fact-finding visit, despite presenting proper identification.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the force public relations officer, said the initial confusion followed a meeting of the Kaduna state security council convened by Uba Sani, governor of the state.
Hundeyin said some individuals from Kajuru LGA disputed the abduction claims during the meeting, describing them as false.
He said comments made by the commissioner of police during a media interaction were aimed at preventing panic while verification was ongoing and were not intended to deny the incident.
“Subsequent verification from operational units and intelligence sources has confirmed that the incident did occur,” the statement reads.
Following the confirmation, Hundeyin said Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), ordered the deployment of tactical units and intelligence assets to Kajuru and surrounding communities.
He noted that the deployment includes intensified patrols, targeted search-and-rescue operations, and proactive measures to protect lives and property.
Hundeyin urged the public and media to rely on official police communication for verified information and to avoid speculation that could undermine ongoing rescue efforts.
He added that the police would provide updates as developments unfold.
![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 "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
