![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 Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency has said that flooding has affected no fewer than 361,000 persons in eight out of the 13 Local Government Areas in the state.
The Executive Secretary of NASEMA, Zachary Allumaga, on Thursday said that Nasarawa was among the states the Nigerian Metrological Agency predicted would experience serious floods in the months of September and October.
The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency has said no fewer than 361,000 persons have been recently displaced by floods in eight out of the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
The affected LGAs are Nasarawa, Toto, Doma, Awe, Lafia, Obi, Karu and Akwanga.
The Executive Secretary of NASEMA, Zachary Allumaga, told newsmen on Thursday in Lafia that there was a possibility that the flood could displace one million people in the state before the end of the rainy season.
Allumaga said the state emergency agency had swung into action by dispatching a search and rescue team and its officials to the affected local government areas and communities for an on-the-spot assessment.
He explained that Nasarawa State was among the states that the Nigerian Metrological Agency predicted this year particularly in the month of September and October to experience serious flood.
He said, “The agency with the authority of the governor went round and began sensitising people at the riverine areas in the flood prone LGAs, Nasarawa, Toto, Doma, Awe, and the flood flash point LGAs, Lafia, Obi, Karu and Akwanga.
“About 135,000 people were displaced in Umaisha, Toto LGA, 226,000 displaced in Nasarawa. Five communities in Doma and two communities in Obi LGA were submerged. As I talk to you, our men are in the river to take assessment, search and rescue.”
According to Allumaga, effort had been put in place to assist the displaced persons with the relief materials to cushion the effect of hardship they are currently facing as a result of the flood.
He, however, appealed to the people that live along riverine areas to move to high ground to avoid any form of casualties.
Our correspondent reports that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly had on Monday directed the state government to distribute relief materials to cushion effect of hardship of flood victims in the state.
![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
