![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
Defence headquarters, on Tuesday, vowed that no matter how long it takes, the military will continue to hunt for the killers of the 17 officers and soldiers, who were on a legitimate duty to ensure peace and security in Okuama, Delta State.
It also stated that notorious terrorist and bandit leader Bello Turji, who has been having a field day on social media, using tik-tok to threaten communities and celebrate his conquest, as well as display large sums of cash collected as ransoms from kidnapped victims, would be apprehended soon by security agencies.
Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, made this known at a media briefing following a joint military, police, and paramilitary security meeting in Abuja yesterday.
Speaking through the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Major Gen Emeka Onumajuru, on the latest Okuama activities, the CDS stated: “People have been asking concerns about what is going on at Okuama.
“Do you remember how long it took to get Osama bin Laden? So, we are working on getting the killers of the 17 military personnel. No matter how long it takes, we will hunt them down.”
General Musa stated that the Defence headquarters was reviewing operations in the North West Zone of the country with a view to better synergy, considering the results and noting that the various operations will soon be brought together and harmonised under one commander for more effectiveness.
He urged communities in the North West, including Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kebbi, to stop supporting or providing terrorists with information, noting that when troops on a fighting patrol got their MRAP vehicle stuck in a swamp, locals informed the terrorists, who came and made a social media event out of the situation.
“On the issue of Turji, like I said, he is just a deranged individual who feels power, but I can bet you that it is just a matter of time. We are going to get him, and I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, we are going to address that issue. Those following him are a bunch of deranged individuals with no allegiance to anybody.
“That is why we all must come together to work with members of the armed forces and security agencies to deny them the ability to move freely within our communities.
“Please do not give them any support. Do not give them information on the movement of troops because this is what is happening. Most of the area where this thing is continuing because we have informants within the communities.”
“I have always reminded Nigerians that asymmetric warfare is something that should not be allowed to commence because once it is done, it is a very difficult operation.
“You are dealing with non-state actors that are not wearing uniforms; you don’t know them, but they know you. And within the communities, if you don’t have the support of the community, it makes it extremely difficult.”
![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
