![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")
Several persons were killed by terrorists during an attack on the Abande village in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue state, including a police officer.
The attack took place near the Cameroon border on market day, when armed bandits stormed the village, robbed stalls, and set fire to them.
Akerigbe Lawrence, a former councilman, informed our correspondent that the terrorists struck during a market day, murdering several people.
He continued, “The invaders looted stalls and set the market on fire. As of 11:55 p.m., some of the victims’ bodies were conveyed to Jato-Aka by personnel of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area.”
Lawrence identified six fatalities whose remains were retrieved and transferred to the morgue, including Lornunbe Agba, Chia Kile, Terseer Shenge, Mker Ugbe, Emmanuel Agba, Ortswen Gbinde, and a mobile police officer.
However, the authorities acknowledged five casualties.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, State Command spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet stated, “On 3 February 2026, at about 17:30 hours, the Divisional Police Officer, Jato-Aka, received a distress call that suspected armed herder bandits had attacked police personnel stationed at the Abande community as well as members of the community.
“During the ensuing confrontation, while police operatives were responding to the distress call, one Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to 13 Police Mobile Force, Makurdi, who was on special duty at Abande Community, was fatally injured. Regrettably, four members of the community also lost their lives.”
The police stated that the combined teams of operatives and other security agencies had been deployed to secure the community, conduct thorough searches, and prevent further lawlessness.
“The deceased persons have been recovered and deposited at the mortuary,” Edet added.
Ifeanyi Emenari, the state’s Commissioner of Police, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations to immediately proceed to Jato-Aka with additional Mobile Force personnel and Armored Personnel Carriers to coordinate intensive operations, track down perpetrators, and make arrests.
Speaking with our journalist, the area’s traditional ruler, Ter Kwande, acknowledged the attack and regretted the insecurity in his territory.
“Six of my people and a policeman were killed, and their bodies were recovered last night. The other three policemen have fled, leaving the area vulnerable,” he said.
He urged the federal government to establish a permanent military presence in Abande, pointing out that the nearest army units in Jato-Aka and Agbatse are roughly one to one-and-a-half hours away due to poor terrain and a lack of network connectivity.
Abande and its adjacent communities have been subjected to recurrent violent attacks. On Christmas Day 2024, about 28 persons were slain in Anwase.
Earlier this year, on January 15, 2026, a farmer and his son were assassinated in Imande Avur Abande, and two security personnel assigned to Operation Whirl Stroke were ambushed and killed.
![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")
