![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")
Nigerian athlete Israel Okon has advanced into the semi-final of the men’s 100m event at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The fast-rising sprinter took first position in 10.04s in Heat 6, fending off the duo of second-placed Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and Italy’s Lamont Jacobs in third place.
The 18-year-old ranked sixth among seven athletes who won their heats, higher than Letsile Tebogho, the 200m Olympic gold medalist.
Okon, the national 100m champion, has been placed in Heat 3 of the semi-final which will take place on Sunday.
He will face a competitive field that includes Tebogho, Botswana’s record holder, and Gift Leotlela of South Africa who ran a personal best in the heats.
Kanyinsola Ajayi also joined Okon in the semi-final after posting a personal best of 9.88m to finish second in Heat 1.
It was, however, disappointment for Nigeria in other events of the day, led by Ese Brume in the women’s high jump. The medal hopeful posted 6.46m to finish 10th in Group B, failing to reach the event’s final.
Prestina Ochonogor finished in last place in Group A, crashing out alongside Brume after posting 6.05m on her second attempt.
It was a similar story in the women’s discus, with both Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons and Obiageri Amaechi exiting in the qualification round. Onyekwere-Lyons threw 59.45m to finish 12th place, while Amaechi posted 55.69m to place 16th among 18 competitors in her group.
Rosemary Chukwuma was also dumped out of the women’s 100m event following a 11.27s finish in Heat 3. The time could only place the 23-year-old in fifth place.
Nigeria suffered a near miss in men’s shot put where Chukwuebuka Enekwechi missed out on a medal following a fifth-place finish.
Enekwechi threw 20.83m to reach the final, where he improved to 21.52m but it was not enough for a podium finish.
Ryan Crouser (USA), Uziel Muñoz (MEX), Leonardo Fabbri (Italy) won gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively, in the event.
