![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 Lagos State Taskforce on Thursday continued its bombardment against unruly motorcycle ‘Okada’ riders who are operating on highways and restricted routes after several warnings regarding their operations.
The extensive exercise which took place along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway was led by the chairman of the agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye who disclosed that these raids became necessary after warnings to okada operators fell on deaf ears.
The action by the Lagos Taskforce comes two days after it impounded 355 motorcycles.
Jejeloye described Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as a take-off point for okada operators who violate Lagos State Traffic laws by operating on the highway and in Apapa Local Government Area which is one of the LGAs where Okada operations have been banned.
“We have been to this particular location about twice because of the sensitivity of the corridor and routes it connects. However, our leniency has been taken for granted by these okada operators and perpetrators of illegalities in this area who feel we are oblivious to their activities. We have surprised them today and confiscated all bikes that operate here. I am sure they would have gotten the picture by now”.
Jejeloye described the activities of the Okada operators as despicable, noting that as a result of the large number of motorcycles that congregate along the expressway, they constitute a nuisance and create unnecessary bottlenecks on the highway.
“From the volume of bikes seized you can imagine what this location looks like at rush hour. We have come to put an end to it so that Lagosians can have a breath of fresh air and commute along this axis peacefully.”
Jejeloye addressed illegal merchants of petroleum products who deal in the sale of petrol on the Highways saying that their days of engaging in such illegalities are numbered. He assured them that the Lagos State State Taskforce would swoop in heavily on them till sanity and environmental decorum were restored to the area.
He assured Lagosians that the Agency would keep up with the back-to-back enforcement for compliance exercises across all nooks and crannies in the State till the THEMES PLUS agenda of the State Government is actualised and sustained.
![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")
