![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 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has stated that household kerosene prices surged by 57.18 percent, reaching N1,272.40 per litre in August.
The NBS’ National Household Kerosene Price Watch report noted that this sharp increase from last year’s N809.52 in August 2022 highlighted escalating energy costs.
The report shows a month-on-month increase, with the average price per litre at N1,272.40, a disturbing 0.92 percent increase from N1,260.81 in July.
Analysis at state levels shows substantial pricing disparities.
Adamawa was the highest, selling at N1,745.83 per litre; it trailed closely by Benue at N1,468.33 and Abuja at N1,486.89.
Jigawa offered a more affordable HHK at N1,000.00, followed by Edo at N1,104.78 and Kaduna at N1,121.79.
Regionally, the North-Eastern region of Nigeria had the highest average price per litre at N1,370.64, followed closely by the South-East at N1,332.49.
In comparison, the North-Western region had relatively lower prices at N1,163.25.
Consumers paid an average of N4,351.53 per gallon, a 1.06 percent rise from the previous month’s N4,306.07. Year on year, this represents a 47.63 percent increase from N2,947.65 in August 2022.
According to the survey, Lagos had the highest HHK costs, hitting N5,350.83 a gallon, closely followed by Katsina at N4,991.85 and Borno at N4,897.47.
Delta, on the other hand, offered some respite by pricing HHK at N2,945.71 a gallon, followed by Rivers and Oyo at N3,287.50 and N3,711.79, respectively.
Furthermore, gallon pricing showed regional variations, with the North-East having the highest average at N4,637.71, closely followed by the South-East at N4,590.69.
In contrast, the South-South region provided a cheaper kerosene price at N3,727.30, illustrating the country’s varying economic circumstances.
