Catholic Knight who denounced Christianity over non-recognition of Ifeanyi Ubah arrested in Nnewi
Former Knight of St. John Arrested for Ritual Cleansing in Nnewi
NNEWI, Nigeria — Sir James Louis Okoye, a former Catholic Knight of St. John International, has been arrested following a ritual cleansing demonstration in the streets of Nnewi. His arrest occurred on Saturday when local vigilantes apprehended him while he was dressed in red and performing the rite, which involved holding a fresh palm frond between his lips and a bell in hand.
Okoye, known in the community as Ebube Anaedo, had gained attention in January during the official consecration of the Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church. At that ceremony, he publicly denounced Christianity, citing the Church’s failure to recognize late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s contributions to the church’s construction prior to his death.
In a video recorded during the January event, Okoye was seen removing his shoes and knighthood hat while exiting the cathedral, where he expressed his discontent by declaring, “Ifeanyi Ubah ndo.” As he left, he also proclaimed “Akachaam,” indicating his renunciation of Christianity.
Following his protest, Okoye faced excommunication by the Knight of St. John International, and details regarding his activities remained sparse until his recent arrest.
In a short video following his capture, Okoye was seen seated on the floor of a vigilante office, stating he was conducting a cleansing exercise for Nnewi due to perceived desecration of the land. He asserted he had acted with good intentions and claimed to have sought permission from the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, before initiating the cleansing ritual.
Reactions to his actions varied among community members and social media users. Some labeled him as mentally unstable due to his outspoken opposition to the Church, while others defended his right to practice his beliefs without harm to others.
At the time of this report, details regarding Okoye’s health status and whether he had been released from vigilante custody remained unclear.
