![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?")
The Lagos State Taskforce has dislodged squatters and demolished illegal structures along the Pen Cinema-Fagba railway corridor in a decisive operation aimed at improving safety and maintaining environmental standards.
The enforcement exercise, which spanned approximately 25 kilometers, was carried out in the early hours of the day under the supervision of the Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele.
Speaking after the operation, CSP Akerele explained that the clearance followed numerous complaints from residents and the Police hierarchy about criminal activities in the area.
“This action was necessary to provide relief for residents around Fagba, Agege, and Pen Cinema who have been living in fear due to the illegal activities of these squatters. Their disregard for environmental and sanitary laws has become intolerable,” he said.
He further noted the health and safety hazards posed by the makeshift settlements. “The rail tracks are not meant for habitation or the sale of narcotics. Anyone caught converting this place into a den of criminals or an area of residence will face severe consequences according to the law,” he warned.
During the operation, 94 individuals were arrested, while suspected illegal substances, including Indian hemp and Colorado, along with dangerous weapons, were confiscated. CSP Akerele assured residents that the suspects would be promptly charged to court.
Some squatters reportedly attempted to resist the taskforce’s efforts, but the agency maintained control and cleared the area. Akerele issued a stern warning to those evicted, cautioning against a return to the railway corridor. “Adequate patrols and regular surveillance will be conducted to ensure no squatters return to erect shanties in the future,” he added.
Residents in Fagba, Agege, and Pen Cinema have expressed relief at the taskforce’s actions, as the area had reportedly become a hub for criminal elements.
Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Taskforce, reiterated the agency’s commitment to sustaining a clean and habitable environment for Lagosians, vowing that similar operations would continue across the state.
