![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 spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, on Thursday, paraded 82 suspects at the Command’s Bompai headquarters for various offences.
In a press statement, Haruna disclosed that the suspects were arrested between 1st and 14th November 2024.
Among those arrested are 13 armed robbery suspects, 13 suspected thieves, 35 suspected thugs, 12 suspected drug dealers, five suspected fraudsters, as well as two suspected motorcycle thieves and two kidnappers.
Furthermore, the police spokesperson revealed that one AK-47 rifle, three locally made guns, hard drugs, 10 mobile phones, and other dangerous weapons were recovered from the suspected criminals.
According to Haruna, the achievements demonstrated the commitment and dedication of the police towards maintaining law and order in the state.
He said, “Our strategies are yielding the desired results. Therefore, the Command will continue to strengthen its multifaceted strategies that focus on community policing.
“Other strategies include strategic communication to sensitise the public on security matters, intelligence-led policing, as well as targeted clearance operations that have effectively dismantled criminal networks.”
He expressed appreciation for the sustained support of Kano’s Governor, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, towards the police, which has enhanced their operational capacity and ability to serve the people of Kano State.
