Nnewi Vigilantes Apprehend Ex-Catholic Knight Over Alleged Ritual Cleansing

Sir James Louis Okoye, formerly a Catholic Knight of St John International, has been taken into custody. Okoye, also known as Ebube Anaedo, had previously garnered attention in January for publicly disavowing Christianity during the official dedication of Our Lady of Assumpta Catholic Church in Nnewi. His protest stemmed from the church's perceived failure to acknowledge the contributions of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, whom he believed largely funded the cathedral's construction.

Local vigilante operatives in Nnewi apprehended Okoye on Saturday after he was observed parading the town's streets. He was reportedly dressed in red attire, with a fresh palm frond clenched between his lips, and carrying a bell. He appeared to be performing a ritual cleansing exercise, which he claimed was intended to purify Nnewi land.

Recall that in January, during the consecration ceremony of the Nnewi Catholic Cathedral, Okoye was captured on video protesting the non-recognition of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. In the footage, he removed his shoes and knighthood hat while exiting the cathedral, shouting “Ifeanyi Ubah ndo.” As he stepped out of the gate, he symbolically dusted his shoes and exclaimed “Akachaam,” a gesture signifying his severance from Christianity. His actions were aimed at drawing attention to the church's apparent oversight of Ubah's significant efforts in the church's development. He offered an apology to the late senator as he renounced Catholicism over the issue.

This incident sparked considerable controversy within Nnewi, ultimately leading to his excommunication by the Knight of St John International. Little had been heard from him since then until his reported arrest on Saturday. A brief video circulating online shows Okoye seated on the floor, seemingly under interrogation in what appears to be a vigilante office. In the video, the former knight asserted that he was conducting a cleansing exercise for Nnewi land, which he believed had been desecrated. He maintained that his actions were justifiable and for the betterment of Nnewi town, adding that he had obtained permission from the traditional ruler, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, before commencing the exercise.

Meanwhile, some netizens who witnessed Okoye during his activity suggested he might be experiencing a mental breakdown, attributing it to his earlier conflict with the church. Conversely, others argued that he had committed no offense, merely practicing his beliefs without harming anyone. As of the time of this report, the status of his health remained unconfirmed, and it was unclear whether he had been released by the vigilante operatives.