Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps have intercepted a truck conveying 151 persons to Akure and Osun States.
This was based on intelligence reports that terrorists were making inroads into the Southwest states.
The suspects, who were tucked in between bags of beans and rice the truck was carrying, were intercepted around Sango, Akure/Ado Road during a stop and search operation.
Assorted charms and amulets were found on them.
Among the suspects were five women.
The truck drivers said they were coming from Kastina, Kano and Jigawa states but picked the suspects in groups heading to the Southwest states.
Ondo Commander of Amotekun, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the clever manner the suspects were hidden inside the truck aroused suspicion.
He said 10 motorcycles and charms were found on the suspects.
“We intercepted two trucks conveying 151 people who were cleverly concealed behind bags of rice and beans in a way that one may not know that this number of people was tucked in the trucks.
“Upon interception, we asked of their destinations, some said Akure while others said Osogbo in Osun state.
“Although we have not completed profiling them, as none of them has an idea of what they were going to do or their mission. All they were able to tell us is that they entered the vehicle and came to Ondo State.
“If we check and we do not find anything on them, as long as they don’t have anybody that is ready to take custody of them in Ondo state, we will send them back to their various states.
“Some of them claimed they are from Kastina, Kano and Jigawa states. But on how they came together, they said they couldn’t figure it out, but that they were conveyed on the truck down to Akure in Ondo State.
“This however, is not a good sign, following the security warning in the Southwest states.
“While respecting their rights as Nigerians, we are not sure of what they are here for. We still feel that while travelling, anyone should have a mission and destination.”
![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")
