![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")
Operatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps codenamed So-Safe Corps, have arrested one Kabiru Adedotun, popularly called K.B., an alleged notorious cultist, member of Eye Confraternity terrorising Ogun communities, while a cut-to-size pistol was also recovered from him.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday from the Office of the State Commander of the Corps, Commander Soji Ganzallo, through the Office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.
The statement disclosed that the tactical squad of the Corps, while on routine patrol, got information that made the team go after the suspected cultist.
He was said to have been promptly arrested, and a cut-to-size pistol was recovered from him in his room at Totoro, Abeokuta, in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun.
The cultist was equally said to have allegedly confessed to having been involved in a number of criminal activities in the state.
The security agency further explained that the suspect and the exhibit recovered from him had been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Monitoring Unit, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, for onward transfer to State Police Headquarters, Eleweran, for further investigation and likely prosecution.’.
The statement partly reads, “Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, codenamed So-Safe Corps, has arrested one Kabiru Adedotun, popularly called K.B., a suspected notorious Eye Confraternity cultist terrorising Ogun communities, while recovering a cut-to-size pistol from him.
“This is contained in a press statement issued from the Office of the State Commander of the Corps, Commander (Dr) Soji Ganzallo, through the Office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf, on Sunday.
“The statement disclosed that the tactical squad of the Corps, while on routine patrol, got the information, which led the team to go after the suspected cultist, Kabiru Adedotun.
“He was promptly arrested, and a cut-to-size pistol was recovered from him in his room at Totoro, Abeokuta, in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun.
“The statement also read that at the time of the arrest, the suspect confessed to having been involved in a number of criminal activities in the state.
“Ganzallo noted that during the preliminary investigation of the act, the suspected deadly cultist mentioned some names who were members of his gang.
“Ganzallo further explained that the cultist and the exhibit recovered from him have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Monitoring Unit, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, for onward transfer to State Police Headquarters, Eleweran, for further investigation and likely prosecution.”
![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")
