Metro

BBC documentary alleges wide-ranging abuses by late Nigerian Prophet TB Joshua

Published

4 months ago

January 9, 2024

A three-episode BBC documentary titled, “Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua”, released on Monday, has uncovered alleged dark secrets of late Nigerian televangelist and founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly called TB Joshua.

In the documentary, which is the result of a two-year investigation, dozens of the former church members gave accounts of physical violence or torture carried out by Joshua and his cronies, including instances of child abuse and people being whipped and chained.

As part of the investigation, the BBC interviewed at least 30 former members and workers of the church.

The documentary revealed the clandestine lifestyle of the late Joshua, detailing stories of abuse, sexual harassment, rape, manipulation, and staged miracles which spanned over two decades.

Reported survivors of sexual exploitation narrated how they were manipulated and silenced even when they knew the relationship they had with him was abusive.

Many women narrated how he molested and raped them, with a few saying they tried to resist his assault at first but were threatened into submission.

According to one witness, Joshua told the women he was sexually assaulting them for their salvation.

A woman who gave her name as Abisola said she was in the church for 14 years and was raped throughout her stay.

She said when the women get pregnant as a result of being raped many times, they were forced to get an abortion in a dingy clinic inside the synagogue.

“We went into his room and I stood there. He said ‘off your clothes’ so I removed my clothes he just pointed so I lay down and then he raped me. He broke my virginity. I was screaming and he was whispering in my ears that I should stop acting like a baby. I was 17 years old. I was underage,” one of the women said.

One of the reported survivors confronted TB Joshua after she managed to escape. She recorded the encounter in videos she shared with the BBC. In the video, a security officer was heard threatening to shoot at the lady. Survivors said they were targeted, beaten, and shot at by thugs suspected to be working for the pastor.

The documentary also revealed how the church allegedly stage-managed and exaggerated miracles that were televised.

“People were told to exaggerate their problems so they could be healed, likewise, their healing so it could be perfected by God”, a witness who said he worked at the miracle department told the BBC.

“You’ve got this man who positioned himself as a father with many children and went on to rape, abuse, and molest all these people who call him daddy. How is somebody like that permitted to walk free.”

The documentary also delved into how TB Joshua allegedly maltreated and ostracised the daughter he had out of wedlock.

Ajoke, now 28 years old, told the BBC how she confronted her father about allegations of sexual abuse, and was subsequently thrown out of the church.

“The disciples dragged me out of the office, put me in a room and isolated me from the rest of the church. I wonder how I lived through that time because they were hitting me with belts, chains… I couldn’t take a shower for days. He was trying so hard to stop people from listening to me. He felt threatened by the fact that I knew what was happening,” she narrated.

Another aspect of the documentary that got Nigerians talking were revelations that TB Joshua was engaged in fake miracles.

Some of the witnesses gave first-hand accounts detailing how Joshua faked his “miracle healings” which were broadcast to millions of people in Nigeria and around the world.

One Agomoh Paul who was once regarded as Joshua’s number two man at SCOAN, said he left the church after staying in the compound for at least a decade.

Paul revealed that the whole “miracle thing” was scripted and acted out.

“That guy was a genius. Everything he did was planned out,” Paul stated, adding that a major part of the planning was the faking of the “miracles.”

Other witnesses who spoke in the documentary compared their experiences at the Synagogue Church to being in a cult.

They said they were often stripped and beaten with electrical cables and horse whips, and routinely denied sleep in scenes which looked like cult operations.

The response of the church is being awaited.

Related Topics:BBC Documentary Featured Synagogue TB Joshua

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Metro

Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ repositioning Nigeria as global investment hub— VP Shettima

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Vice President Kashim Shettima believes the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the President Bola Tinubu administration is gradually transformating Nigeria into a global investment hub and a prime investment destination.

The Nigerian VP who made the assertion on Friday during a High-level dialogue on delivering the “Renewed Hope Agenda” on the theme, “Nigeria’s Global Ambitions: From Hope to Reality,” held in Abuja, said the policy thrust of the present administration was aimed at repositioning Nigeria with the agenda hinged on the “core pillars of democracy, development, demographics, and diaspora engagement.”

Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, noted that the “present moment serves as the opportune time to remind both Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria stands ready to embrace the future and conduct business.”

Shettima went on to outline the Tinubu administration’s ambitious roadmap, noting that the President’s commitment to bold reforms and strategic partnerships to revive the nation’s economy and enhance security has been applauded by the international community including the United States, the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others.

“Our reason for this gathering is less about the certainty of our vision for this nation. This has never been in doubt. We are here because of our place in a world of opportunities—a world that can’t afford to neglect or underestimate our place,” Shettima said.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a policy framework; it is a statement of commitment, a covenant between us and the people.”

The V pointed out that at the heart of the administration’s foreign policy approach, dubbed the ‘Tinubu Doctrine,’ is a ‘4-D Diplomacy Strategy’ centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development, harnessing Nigeria’s demographic potential, and engaging with the diaspora community.

“This is further evidenced by the recently announced $10 billion Diaspora Fund, a multi-sectoral investment initiative set to be launched soon and expected to strengthen ties with our diaspora community while boosting forex inflows to support our national development plans,” the Vice President said.

On security challenges dogging the country, Shettima assured of the administration’s commitment to guaranteeing the safety of lives and properties through regional and national interventions.

“This is the time to partner for democracy, for development, for peace, and for security,” he enthused.

Metro

Hope for persons with disability, as Muleya shares promising story of inclusivity in governance

Published

1 day ago

May 17, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Frederick John Muleya, a differently abled person based in Choma town, Southern Province, has shared some insights of changes being made to people like him in discussing freedom of expression and other various issues.

Recently appointed as a Ward Development Committee for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to represent persons with disabilities in his area, Muleya expressed optimism of inclusivity and freedom of expression.

He expressed believe that this was a starting point for persons with disabilities to have a platform which can be used to discuss critical issues such as freedom of expression.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Choma, Muleya’s hope was that persons with disabilities would now be able to have freedom of expression, especially through media coverage.

“In terms of freedom, right now there are some changes but before this government, it was very difficult. The new government is trying to be inclusive with persons with disabilities. There are some changes.

“Sometimes, we have been called to Choma Mano [radio station in Choma] to express ourselves and say what we want from the government. The media is not really giving us a platform to express ourselves, but they are trying,” he said.

Asked if he felt persons with disabilities were fully included regarding freedom of expression, Muleya said; “Not yet included but there are some changes. There are some promises, as I said earlier, it is the first time to include persons with disability in the CDF committee.

“So, we see some changes that maybe in future things will not be the same as they were before.”

Meanwhile, Muleya emphasised the need for public places, including media entities to consider putting slops for people living with disabilities in their building.

“We find that measurements of the doors, a person using a wheelchair cannot use the toilet, so when people are planning to build structures, we have to be included so that we decide together,” he said.

Muleya’s views show signs of improvement in freedom of expression by the government to ensure that people living with disabilities are included in the decision-making process.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.