A former Catholic Knight of St John International, Sir James Louis Okoye, has reportedly been arrested by vigilantes in Nnewi, Anambra State, after he was seen conducting what he described as a spiritual cleansing of the community.
Okoye was reportedly apprehended on Saturday while dressed in red and walking through parts of Nnewi with fresh palm fronds in his mouth and a bell in his hand.
In a video recorded after his arrest, Okoye was seen seated on the floor in what appeared to be a vigilante office, where he was questioned about his activities.
He reportedly told his interrogators that he was carrying out the exercise because Nnewi land had been desecrated and needed to be cleansed.
Okoye maintained that his actions were not intended to cause harm and insisted that he was acting in the interest of the town.
The incident comes months after he publicly renounced Christianity during the official opening of Our Lady of Assumpta Catholic Church in Nnewi in January.
At the event, Okoye protested the alleged failure to recognise the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah for his contribution to the construction of the cathedral.
He was captured on video removing his shoes and knighthood hat as he left the church premises, while repeatedly shouting, “Ifeanyi Ubah ndo.”
As he crossed the church gate, he reportedly dusted his shoes and shouted “Akachaam”, which he appeared to use to signify his departure from Christianity.
Okoye had expressed the belief that Ubah played a major role in bringing the cathedral project close to completion before his death and was unhappy that the late senator was not adequately recognised during the event.
He subsequently disappeared from public attention until Saturday’s incident.
His latest action has generated reactions on social media, with some users questioning his state of mind, although such claims have not been independently established.
Details surrounding his arrest, including whether he has been formally charged or released, were not immediately available.
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