Lagos lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has condemned the killing of a pregnant woman, Fatima, and her four children, describing the act as an insensate act of terrorism.
Adegboruwa noted that the concept of national unity will be a mirage if citizens cannot be safe in any location they find themselves.
Noting that the killing is unacceptable, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said, “Lady Fatima, an indigene of Adamawa State by birth and Anambra State by marriage, was gunned down by “unknown gunmen”, recently. Her four innocent children were also mowed down in this insensate act of terrorism, recklessly perpetrated without any justification whatsoever.
“No reason has been given and none could have been proffered for this criminal act of brutality, extended even to toddlers. There should be no hiding place for the barbarians; so Governor Charles Soludo owes the nation the sacred duty to do all in his powers to fish out those who killed Lady Fatima and her children, in their prime.
Adding that, “The concept of national unity will be a mirage if citizens do not feel safe in other locations different from their places of origin.
“If the primitive and evil motive of this mindless act is to provoke rival ethnic war, I urge the people of Nigeria to resist this by continuously holding government accountable to the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities of guaranteeing the lives and security of the people.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the family of Lady Fatima, the good people of Adamawa and Anambra states, believing that in no time, the perpetrators will be unveiled and made to face the wrath of the law, no matter their status or motive,” he said.
![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")
