![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")
Apostle Johnson Suleman on Friday night told his attackers that they do not know what transpired in 2017 that triggered a fight that he did not speak to.
In what could be termed a parable, he said, “You may have joined the fora because you want to chase clout but you don’t know where the fight started. There are things you don’t understand, you don’t have an idea of the beginning of what happened in 2017,” he said in a video.
Gunmen on Friday attacked the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleman along the Benin-Auchi road, Edo state, killing seven persons including three policemen.
Suleman who had just returned from Tanzania was heading to Edo State, South-South Nigeria in the company of his wives and kids when his convoy was attacked.
The outspoken pastor was saved by his bulletproof vehicle that was riddled with gunshots.
Speaking after the deadly ordeal, Suleman, who is the President, Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide said that he cannot be killed because he is a man of God.
In a video on his official Twitter account, Suleman commiserated with the seven people who died in the attack.
He also addressed his attackers, speaking authoritatively on who they are and where the fight emanated from without naming names.
Jesus is Lord..The joy of the wicked is temporal..Lies didn’t work,they resorted to guns..Psalms 27.2..
May the souls of the departed Rest In Peace..Jesus is Lord.. pic.twitter.com/v08MlhZfYf— Apst Johnson Suleman (@APOSTLESULEMAN) October 21, 2022
“There are certain things that have been happening that I have been quiet about, even if you are the most careless person on earth, you will not give yourself to so many scandals. There are things people don’t know, even though one or two people along the line took advantage of that and just come out and say one or two things,” he said.
“But the reason I am coming out to speak not is that they have done all that and discovered that I am still moving on, they started to make attempts on my life.
“I just escaped an assassination attempt where seven people were killed. My car was attacked, they opened fire on my car and kept spraying it with bullets. My wife and my kids were there, the escort car with police was there, they killed the policeman, they killed the other escort car, the bus that was with us, seven people. We were all moving in a convoy.
“People who did this are expecting me to come out and mention their names so that they will come out and deny it, I won’t do that but the truth of the matter is this, you can’t kill me, my life is in the hand of God, I am a man of God and those who are among those who are attacking me, you are building on what you don’t understand.
Making reference to a fallout in 2017, Suleman explained, “You may have joined the fora because you want to chase clout but you don’t know where the fight started. There are things you don’t understand, you don’t have an idea of the beginning of what happened in 2017.
“The people who are behind it, you may come and you are doing your own thing but it is beyond what you are thinking.
“I am alive for those who have been calling and all that, I am well, and my family is fine but I feel bad for the lives that where taken, we are mourning but Jesus is Lord.
“For all those who they killed may their soul rest in peace and for the young men who opened fire and kept wasting people, I won’t take your lives but the seed that you sow, you will reap it.
“I want Nigerians to know that a coordinated lie swallows and uncoordinated truth, with time the truth will come out,” Suleman said.
![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")
