![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")
Nigerians have berated the police over its warning against certain kinds of comments on social media.
Chronicle NG reports that the Nigerian police force warned Nigerians against commenting “carelessly and sarcastically on social media.”
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, issued the warning in a statement on his X page on Monday.
Adejobi warned Nigerians not to say what they cannot defend in court or when summoned by the police.
He added that Nigerians should tread with caution on social media so they do not violate the Cybercrime Prohibition Act of 2015.
His statement reads, “Many talk carelessly and sarcastically on social media. Don’t say what you can’t defend. It could be criminal. Remember, we have the Cybercrime Prohibition Act of 2015. Be warned.”
Reacting to the statement on X, Victor Wolewonmu alleged that the police PRO “wants to use the law to intimidate and gag Nigerians. How does being sarcastic on social media become a cybercrime? If things are not going well in the country, don’t expect the victims and the vulnerable masses to keep quiet.”
In his reaction, Michael Egwuonwu states that “it is a very ridiculous behavior and a major throwback to the military dictatorship that you threaten your paymasters with the Cybercrime Prohibitions Act.
“You do not deserve that uniform you wear. You are a disgrace to the type of policing Nigeria, and Nigerians deserve and demand. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Lawrence Okoro noted that the police should not “threaten” Nigerians with the Cybercrime Prohibition Act.
“As a hardworking Nigerian, I pay my taxes to ensure the smooth running of my country. Your salary is paid from my tax, but what I get in return is threats from the agency that is built to ensure my safety.
“The Nigeria Police Force shouldn’t be seen putting out threats to Nigerians,” Okoro noted.
“Nigerians don’t get assurances about protection of life and property,” Pricilia Amadi alleged.
“Every market day brings threats; threats from criminally minded individuals who are running amok, causing havoc with almost no resistance.
“Then, there is the police threatening Nigerians about having the audacity to speak up or ask about the continued threat to their lives and properties.
“The people being threatened are mostly law-abiding Nigerian citizens. One day, the goat will get tired of being pushed to the wall,” she added.
Ollawaski pointed out in his reaction that “anyone who has lived in a sensible society will quickly notice that laws are made and implemented in such a manner not to bully or intimidate citizens but just to maintain order.
“Law enforcement will try to guide you so you don’t break the law. Public servants, no matter how high in their portfolio, speak to citizens, respectively, and act with decorum online.”
He adds, “However, in Nigeria, where all sorts of characters are rewarded with positions without merit, instead of trying to earn the citizens’ respect and trust through your actions, you are here every day, embarrassing yourself and your family by trying to bully and intimidate citizens with your public service portfolio.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, sir. I don’t know who people like you think you are outside that uniform.”
Another X user, Mayowa Durosinmi, alleged that “the widely unaccepted but important security force in Nigeria, through its public relations officer, is threatening the taxpayers who fund the agency of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act without clearly stating what makes freedom of speech illegal.
“Nigerians might as well call for a review of the Act itself since it’s now a tool of intimidation.”
“The only thing Nigerian police do in this life is to instill fear of them in the minds of citizens; they are an unproductive, unreliable, and insensitive bunch of people. It is disappointing that fear is the only thing you have to offer rather than protection and safety,” Warepamor Sammy mentioned.
“So the Act is meant specifically to gag people from being sarcastic? Is that what you are saying? Do you all lump civil cases like defamation, etc. as cybercrime? Cybercrime should end with things like fraud and hacking, not people forming opinions online,” Chinonso stated.
![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")
