A former Catholic Knight, Sir James Louis Okoye, has landed in the custody of vigilantes in Nnewi, Anambra State, after he was allegedly caught carrying out a traditional cleansing exercise on the streets of the town.
Okoye, a former member of the Knights of St John International, reportedly renounced Christianity earlier this year after publicly protesting the alleged failure to recognise late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah during the opening of the Our Lady of Assumpta Catholic Church, Nnewi.
The former knight was said to have raised eyebrows on Saturday when he appeared on the streets dressed in red, with fresh palm fronds reportedly placed between his lips and a bell in his hand.
He was subsequently arrested by local vigilantes, with a video of his interrogation later circulating online.
During the interrogation, Okoye reportedly explained that he was conducting a cleansing exercise because he believed the land of Nnewi had been desecrated.
He insisted that his actions were aimed at protecting the town and that he had committed no wrongdoing.
Okoye first attracted widespread attention in January during the consecration of the Nnewi Catholic Cathedral.
He had protested the perceived failure to acknowledge Ubah, whom he believed had played a major role in the construction of the cathedral before his death.
In a video from the incident, Okoye was seen removing his shoes and knighthood hat as he exited the cathedral.
He was also heard making remarks suggesting that he had severed ties with Christianity before dusting his shoes at the gate.
For several months, there was little public attention on Okoye until his reported arrest over the weekend.
His latest action has since triggered a wave of reactions on social media, with some commenters questioning his behaviour, while others have urged caution against making unverified claims about his mental state.
As of the time of filing this report, it was unclear whether any formal charges had been brought against him.
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