FORMER CATHOLIC KNIGHT REPORTEDLY ARRESTED WHILE PERFORMING RITUAL CLEANSING IN NNEWI
Sir James Louis Okoye, a former member of the Knights of St John International who publicly renounced Christianity earlier this year, has reportedly been arrested by local vigilantes in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Okoye, also known as Ebube Anaedo and popularly associated with the expression Akachaam, reportedly attracted attention on Saturday while walking through parts of Nnewi dressed in red and carrying fresh palm fronds and a bell.
He said he was performing a traditional cleansing exercise intended to cleanse Nnewi land of evil.
His activities reportedly attracted the attention of residents, who alerted local vigilante operatives.
QUESTIONED BY VIGILANTES
A video circulating online shows Okoye sitting on the floor while being questioned by men believed to be members of a local vigilante group.
During the questioning, Okoye reportedly insisted that he had committed no wrongdoing.
He argued that several troubling events had occurred in Nnewi and that the community needed spiritual cleansing.
Okoye also claimed that he obtained permission from the traditional ruler of Nnewi before carrying out the exercise.
That claim has not been independently confirmed.
It was not immediately clear whether Okoye remained in custody or whether any formal criminal charge had been filed against him.
WHO IS JAMES LOUIS OKOYE
Okoye became widely known in January 2026 following a dramatic protest during the dedication of Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral in Nnewi.
He accused the Catholic Church of failing to give adequate recognition to the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah for his contribution towards the construction of the cathedral.
Okoye publicly removed parts of his knighthood attire and declared that he was renouncing Christianity.
“This is my last day as a Christian. I’m done,” he said during the protest.
The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi subsequently disputed claims that Ubah’s contribution to the cathedral had been ignored.
The Knights of St John International also condemned Okoye’s conduct and reportedly expelled him from the Order.
LATEST INCIDENT SPARKS DEBATE
His latest appearance has generated another wave of discussion online.
Some social media users have questioned Okoye’s mental wellbeing, while others argue that performing a traditional religious ritual should not automatically constitute an offence.
There is currently no publicly established medical evidence supporting claims that Okoye is mentally unstable.
The circumstances surrounding his reported detention and whether authorities intend to pursue any formal charges remain unclear.
VNTV
