![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")
Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi has redeployed 109 personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps as part of efforts to enhance its operational efficiency, according to the Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem.
In a statement on Friday, Kazeem quoted Oyeyemi, as saying that the shakeup was aimed at actualising the 2018 strategic goals of the FRSC.
The redeployment exercise is coming barely five days after the promotion of 1,925 officers and marshals of the Corps, some of whom are affected in the shakeup.
According to him, Deputy Corps Marshal Abubakar Ringim, who was recently promoted from the rank of Assistant Corps Marshal, is now in charge of Special Duties and Partnership at the Corps’ national headquarters.
Until his new posting, Ringim was the Zonal Commanding Officer of Zone RS3HQ, Yola.
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Kazeem said Assistant Corps Marshal Victor Nwokolo, formerly Head of Section, Special Marshals, is now the Head of Section, Command and Strategy Administration (CAS).
Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Kayode Olagunju, who was the Head, Policy Research and Statistics, will now proceed on course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
Kazeem stated that Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Stephen Maitizumahs, formerly in charge of Administration and Training, is now the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 3, Yola.
Assistant Corps Marshal Kayode Fanola, formerly on course at NIPSS, takes over from Olagunju as Head of Policy, Research and Statistics at the headquarters.
Assistant Corps Marshal Godwin Ogagaoghene, former ACM Personnel at the headquarters, is now the Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO), Abuja.
Assistant Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki, former Zonal Commanding Officer, Lagos is now the Zonal Commanding Officer, Bauchi; Assistant Corps Marshal Jonas Agwu, formerly in charge of Zone RS4 Jos, is now Assistant Corps Marshal Motor Vehicle Administration in the National headquarters.
Assistant Corps Marshal John Meheux, former Zonal Commanding Officer, Ilorin, is now Zonal Commanding Officer Zone RS2 Lagos, while Assistant Corps Marshal Amauche Nwaka, former Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Manpower Development (MPD) is now Zonal Commanding Officer , Zone 8, Ilorin.
Former Head of Federal Operations, Assistant Corps Marshal Aliyu Gunmi is to take over as the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Manpower Development in Training Department at the headquarters,” Kazeem said.
He added that Assistant Corps Marshal Olu-Mike Olagunju, formerly Head of Section, Command and Strategy, will now take over as the Commanding Officer of Zone 11, Oshogbo, while Corps Commander John Babalola takes over Federal Operations from Zonal Head of Operations, Lagos
Assistant Corps Marshal Peter Kibo, who was until now the Zonal Commanding Officer of Zone 12, Bauchi, takes over as the Zonal Commanding Officer Zone 4, Jos.
According to Kazeem, nine Corps Commanders, 17 Deputy Corps Commanders and nine Assistant Corps Commanders were equally posted and charged with new responsibilities.
Others are: four Chief Route Commanders, three Superintendent Route Commanders, 18 Route Commanders, 34 Deputy Route Commanders, and 14 Assistant Route Commanders.
Meanwhile, Oyeyemi has called on the affected officers to take their responsibilities seriously to advance the goals of the Corps in their new designations.
According to Kazeem, the FRSC boss urged them to strive hard to further reduce the rate of road accidents and their attendant fatalities in the country.
![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")
