![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 Nigeria Tulip International College (NTIC), Ogun Chapter, has urged the Federal Government to direct the immediate dredging of the Ogun-Osun River Basin to accommodate more water and prevent flooding of areas around the dam.
Mr Olayinka Aderoju, Vice -Principal of the College, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. Aderoju said that there was need to dredge the dam before June/July when the rain would become more intense and the dam would be forced open, hence flooding.
“The Federal Government should immediately direct the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in charge of dredging the dam to do the work.
“The Oyan Dam, on the Ogun river basin is responsible for about 60 to 75 per cent of water that flows around the school vicinity towards Abeokuta. “The dam is usually full anytime from June/July and by October, if the rain does not subside, the authority of the dam will be forced to open it.
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“As soon as the dam is opened, it flows along waters in other tributaries and flood the area towards the lagoon, including NTIC, Opic and Isheri, ” he said.
Aderoju said the school and its academic calendar was adversely affected by the flood and at most seasons could not operate during the raining period.
He said the school was always in touch with the River Basin authority as from June/July to know the level of the water and if it had reached the gauge at which the dam would be opened.
“Once there is a notice to the stakeholders within the area that the dam will be opened, we inform our parents weeks ahead if there will be need to evacuate their children. “We plan our activities with the water level and weather forecast from NIMET, ” he said.
The vice-principal said although the problem had been addressed to a large extent, unlike in 2016, 2012 and 2010 when residents of the area had to be evacuated, there was need to still intensify efforts.
He, however, lauded the Lagos and Ogun state governments for their intervention to ensure that the authorities of the basin began to release the water gradually before the dam was full.
“With the intervention, there is enough space for the authorities to accommodate more water at least for a month before the dam is full and they will be forced to open it,” he said.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Tulip International College was formerly known as the Nigeria Turkish International College before it changed its nomenclature.
![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")
