![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")
In an incident that has stunned the country, a teacher in South Korea fatally stabbed an eight-year-old child at an elementary school.
According to authorities, the 40-year-old female teacher admitted to stabbing the pupil in Daejeon, the city’s centre.
At 18:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Monday, the girl was discovered on the second story of a school building with stab wounds. The doctors declared her dead.
According to the authorities, the teacher who was next to her may have self-inflicted the stab wounds.
Choi Sang-mok, the acting president of South Korea, called on authorities to “implement necessary measures to ensure such incidents never happen again” and requested an investigation into the issue on Tuesday.
At the gate of the school, which was closed on Tuesday, several residents placed flowers and a plush toy.
According to the Daejeon education office, the teacher returned to class barely 20 days after a doctor determined she was fit to work, despite having filed a six-month leave of absence on December 9th, claiming depression.
According to authorities, she had no relationship with the pupil.
They said that the instructor had engaged in violent behaviour, including placing another teacher in a headlock, days before the stabbing.
On Monday, the morning following the stabbing, two education office representatives came to the school to look into the dispute.
After the bus driver notified the school that the student had not shown up to be picked up that day, the student was reported missing on Monday night.
Additionally, police stated that once the instructor recovers from her operation, they will continue questioning her.
The education administration suggested that the instructor be placed on leave and physically segregated from the other teacher following the assault on the coworker.
In order to monitor her closely, she was forced to sit next to the vice principal’s desk.
According to the official, she had not been teaching any classes since taking a leave of absence in December and had not communicated with the eight-year-old student.
With stringent gun control legislation, South Korea is a largely safe nation.
After the bus driver notified the school that the student had not shown up to be picked up that day, the student was reported missing on Monday night.
Additionally, police stated that once the instructor recovers from her operation, they will continue questioning her.
The education administration suggested that the instructor be placed on leave and physically segregated from the other teacher following the assault on the coworker.
In order to monitor her closely, she was forced to sit next to the vice principal’s desk.
According to the official, she had not been teaching any classes since taking a leave of absence in December and had not communicated with the eight-year-old student.
With stringent gun control legislation, South Korea is a largely safe nation.
However, in recent years, it has grappled with several high-profile crimes, including stabbings.
“It pains me to see such an incident because a school should be our safest space,” said acting president Choi. “I offer my deep condolences to the victim’s family, who suffered great shock and agony.”
![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")
