![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")
Residents of Plateau State are demanding the arrest of some social media users over alleged complicity in the Palm Sunday attack that led to the death of no fewer than 15 people.
Following the recent killings by terrorists in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos, the Plateau State capital, residents in Jos unearth previous threats by some social media users to cause mayhem in the state.
In various comments on Facebook, some of the social media users had promised chaos in the state following the alleged killing of Hausa traders traveling along the Barkin Ladi axis.
A popular social media user identified as Sharfaddeen Bature, in reaction to the alleged murder of the Hausa traders, threatened that their will be violence in Jos after the 2026 Ramadan fasting.
Writing his threat in the Hausa language and translated by our correspondent, he wrote, “bazan azumi zamu shirya chi kutumar ubansu, kowa ya koma yankisa,” which, when translated into the English language, means “after the fasting (Ramadan) we will prepare to deal with them (Christians).” Let everybody return to violence.”
In the same vein, another social media user, Usman Zubairu Lawan, had threatened to cause mayhem in Jos, following the alleged murder of the traders in Barkin Ladi, a community of predominantly Birom natives.
In reaction to the news, Lawan, in a statement on social media, wrote, “You guys think na only you got those kinds of guys?” a statement many believe means he claimed to have terrorists capable of causing mayhem in Jos.
He also mentioned prominent places in Jos where he gave a hint of a possible attack. Also, he urged people to watch the rivers in the town, a statement many believe is a threat to kill and dump corpses into the rivers.
He also mentioned prominent places in Jos where he gave a hint of a possible attack. Also, he urged people to watch the rivers in the town, a statement many believe is a threat to kill and dump corpses into the rivers.
“Please, can you go to Bauchi Junction, Bauchi Road, and Terminus? And you guys should also watch the rivers when it is raining. You might find something useful. God bless our youths. They did a great job, kudos to them,” he added.
It will be noted that the attack in Angwan Rukuba happened a stone’s throw away from the Bauchi junction Lawan mentioned.
However, the governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, disclosed during his visit to the affected area that a social media user has been arrested for threatening to attack residents in the state.
The governor, who did not mention the name of the suspect, vowed to ensure that the culprits behind the Angwan Rukuba Palm Sunday massacre are brought to book.
![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")
