![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")
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says its linesmen have identified the fault responsible for the power outage on the Ugwuaji-Apir 330-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line.
On Tuesday, TCN reported a power outage in the North-East, North-West, and parts of North-Central after the 330 kV Ugwaji-Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped around 4:53 am “due to a fault.”.
Chronicle NG reported that the power outage occurred on Monday.
Providing an update in a statement on Wednesday, the company’s general manager of public affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said the fault was discovered in the Igumale area of Benue State.
On Tuesday, TCN reported a power outage in the North-East, North-West, and parts of North-Central when the 330 kV Ugwaji-Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped “due to a fault” at 4:53 a.m.
The power outage happened on Monday. Ndidi Mbah, the company’s general manager of public affairs, issued an update on Wednesday, stating that the defect was discovered in the Igumale area of Benue State.
The company stated that a crew of TCN linesmen noticed the issue on the line around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to Mbah, the one-span fault spot was discovered as a snapped 330kV transmission line in Igumale, Benue State’s swampy woodland.
”Having made the discovery earlier in the evening of Wednesday, arrangements are already ongoing to mobilise equipment and materials that would be moved to the site of the incident to commence repair works.
“A team of linesmen from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has discovered the fault on the Ugwuaji-Apir 330KV Double Circuit transmission line at about 5 pm this evening, in the Igumale area of Benue State,” the statement reads.
“The fault area of the transmission line, which measures about one span, was found to be a snapped 330kV transmission line located in the swampy forest of Igumale.”
Following the discovery, she stated that preparations are underway to gather the equipment and materials needed for TCN to begin repair work at the incident site on Thursday.
“Due to the difficult and swampy nature of the terrain, TCN would require to move a bulldozer and other materials for the repair works from the Enugu Regional office of TCN to the site of the incident.
“A Hiab vehicle would also be moved to Igumale to help TCN properly tension the transmission line,” Mbah said.
Mbah noted that prior efforts by two teams dispatched to investigate the source of the forced outage had failed till Wednesday evening.
The general manager underlined TCN’s commitment to resolving the problem as soon as possible, saying that the company is urgently preparing the necessary materials for the repair work.
Mbah further stated that previous efforts by two teams assigned to investigate the source of the forced outage had been ineffective until Wednesday evening.
The general manager confirmed TCN’s commitment to resolving the situation as soon as possible, saying that the company is urgently organising the required materials for the repairs.
Mbah also thanked the government and electrical customers in the impacted areas for their patience.
![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")
