![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")
Hoodlums on Monday set several cars ablaze in the Bukuru metropolis, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The hoodlums were suspected to be anti-Jos City Renewal drive of the Governor Caleb Mutfwang administration. They also attacked passers-by, injuring many.
It was gathered that the disturbance began when some members of the Jos City Renewal Committee attempted to clear a site in the Bukuru neighbourhood but were blocked by hoodlums who attacked the officials.
The activity of the hoodlums, which caught the people off guard, sparked fear in the town as they went on the rampage, destroying cars and setting houses ablaze.
Usman Ibrahim, a member of the Bukuru village, verified the development with newsmen in Jos on Monday, criticising the hoodlums’ actions.
Usman said, “It was this afternoon in the Bukuru community around 2 p.m. We saw some officials of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board as they arrived in the community and moved to a site that they had previously cleared.
“As soon as they began to mark the site, some hoodlums emerged and started throwing stones at the officials, saying they would not allow any project in the area. Before you knew it, they started burning cars parked along the road and attacking innocent passers-by. They also set some houses ablaze. So, everybody started running, and that is what happened.”
It was discovered that the prompt deployment of security officers to the community prevented the situation from worsening.
Some residents who reacted to the incident decried the hoodlums’ actions.
They encouraged the government and security forces to pursue those attempting to incite violence and disrupt the peace in Jos and other parts of the state so that Plateau could progress.
The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, said that security operatives had been dispatched to the affected community while an investigation had begun.
“Yes, we are aware of the incident in Bukuru. Our men have been deployed to the community. I cannot tell you what caused the problem, but we have started an investigation, and we will let you know when we are done. But the situation is calm now,” the PPRO stated.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang had earlier signed an executive order to control the illegal erection of buildings and traffic in the state.
Hart Bankat, General Manager of JMDB, stated that Executive Order No. 003, 2024, became necessary due to the indiscriminate manner in which buildings were being erected and traffic control had deteriorated within the Greater Jos Master Plan, as well as the prevalence of building collapses in the state, and that the agency would ensure that the order’s objectives were met.
![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")
