Sir James Louis Okoye, popularly known as Ebube Anaedo, has reportedly been arrested after he was seen carrying out what he described as a spiritual cleansing exercise on the streets of Nnewi, Anambra State.
Okoye, a former member of the Knight of St John International, was reportedly apprehended by local vigilante operatives on Saturday after he appeared in a red outfit with a fresh palm frond placed between his lips and a bell in his hand.
In a video circulating online, Okoye was seen seated inside what appeared to be a vigilante office while being questioned about the activity.
Responding to the questions, the former Catholic knight reportedly explained that he was conducting a cleansing exercise aimed at restoring the spiritual wellbeing of Nnewi, which he claimed had been desecrated.
Okoye maintained that he had committed no offence, stressing that his actions were intended to benefit the community.
He further claimed that he had obtained permission from the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, before commencing the exercise.
The development has since generated mixed reactions online, with some social media users questioning the nature of the activity and describing his conduct as unusual. Others, however, defended him, arguing that he was exercising his religious or spiritual beliefs and had not harmed anyone.
Okoye became widely known earlier this year following a public protest at the official consecration of the Nnewi Catholic Cathedral.
During the incident, he expressed anger over what he described as the failure of the Catholic Church to properly acknowledge the contributions of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to the construction of the cathedral.
He subsequently announced his departure from Catholicism and was reportedly excommunicated by the Knight of St John International.
The latest incident has once again placed Okoye in the spotlight, with questions now surrounding the circumstances of his arrest and the nature of the cleansing exercise he was undertaking.
As of the time of filing this report, his current status remained unclear, while reports concerning his mental or physical wellbeing could not be independently verified.
