A Nigerian female police officer, Corporal Juliet Chukwu has won the Bantamweight Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The feat was announced in a statement by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in a statement on Saturday.
ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi Force PRO, said her win highlights the growing prowess of Nigerian athletes on the global stage and reinforces the Force’s commitment to excellence in all areas of sports.
“The NPF under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has once again earned another outstanding honour and made the nation proud as one of its own, Corporal Juliet Chukwu, clinches the Bantamweight Championship title in an exhilarating display of skill and determination at the prestigious Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC119) held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“This remarkable achievement highlights the growing prowess of Nigerian athletes on the global stage and reinforces the Force’s commitment to excellence in all areas of sports”.
Following the record-breaking feat, the IGP reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring police excellence in sports, particularly in the rapidly evolving discipline of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
“This commitment has been highlighted by the approval of the official introduction of MMA to the Force through the formation of the Nigeria Police MMA Association, the sponsorship of the 1st ever IGP MMA Open National Championship and Stakeholders Sensitization Seminar, and the approved demonstration of MMA at the 14th Biennial Police Games (BIPOGA) – Oluyole 2024,” the statement said.
The IGP stated that the NPF will continue to support Corporal Chukwu and all police athletes on their journey to greatness, adding that the force would keep on aiming to achieve more honours in several other areas.
“Throughout the year, the NPF has recorded notable achievements in the area of personnel efficiency, effective crime-bursting, reform against corruption and now, in the aspect of sports.
“The NPF remains committed to organisational development and success, with several programs and initiatives emplaced towards this goal, even in the area of sports. The Force is dedicated to nurturing talent and fostering an environment that encourages excellence for its officers in all endeavours,” the statement added.
![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")