TB Joshua, ogbonge Nigerian leader of one of di world biggest evangelical churches, secretly dey commit sexual crimes big time, one BBC investigation dem carry out across three continents reveal....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Testimony from dozens of survivors suggest say Joshua bin abuse and rape young women from around di world plenty times a week for nearly 20 years.
Warning: Di tori contain accounts of torture, rape and self-harm
For early 2002, for di middle of one grey English winter, one 21-year-old Rae disappear.
Di last time many of her friends see her na wen she bin dey one university for Brighton. She bin dey study graphic design, and dey live for one shared house, wey be like 25 minutes from di sea. Rae dey bright and she dey popular.
“For me, e be like say she don die, but I no fit mourn her,” Carla, Rae best friend at di time tok.
Carla sabi wia Rae go. But di truth na say e dey hard to explain give dia friends.
Few weeks before den, she and Rae bin travel go Nigeria togeda, to find one mysterious man wey dem tok say fit heal pipo wit im hands. E be Christian pastor, e get black beard, and e dey wear white robes. Im name na TB Joshua. Im followers dey call am “The Prophet”.
Rae and Carla plan to visit im church, the Synagogue Church of All Nations [Scoan], for just one week. But Rae no come back house again. She move go Joshua compound.
“I leave her for dia,” Carla tok, as tears dey flow freely. “I no go ever forgive myself for dat.”
Inside Synagogue Church of all Nations for Lagos, founded by TB Joshua
Wetin we call dis foto,
Inside Synagogue Church of all Nations in Lagos, wey TB Joshua establish
Di church tanda like one gothic temple ova di Ikotun neighbourhood for Lagos, Africa largest city.
Joshua design all di 12 storeys wey dey di compound, e dey live dia alongside many of im followers.
E supervise di construction of di multiple staircases to im bedroom. Di three doors to di bedroom, in and out. Di hidden prayer room wey tiny mirrors full inside. The “clinic” downstairs.
We interview more dan 25 pipo wey live inside di house. Dem paint di foto of one labyrinth – network of passage-, one nightmarish world wia reality don disappear, wia horrors dey happun.
Plenty women say Joshua sexually assault dem, a number of dem claim say e repeatedly rape dem behind closed doors. Some say e force dem to do abortions afta dem get belle.
Wia dis foto come from, Carla Sturt
Wetin we call dis foto,
Carla (left) wit Rae – she say she dey devastated say she come house without her best friend
Today, Rae don go back England, she dey live for one beautiful hamlet for di countryside. She dey smile and dey laugh freely, but something dey restless about her.
“On di outside I look normal, but I am m not,” she tok.
Wen Rae tok about her years for Lagos, her lips go tight. She dey tok breathlessly. Sometimes, e show clearly say colour comot from her face. She spend 12 years inside Joshua compound.
“Dis tori be like horror tori. e be like something you dey watch for fiction, but na true.”
Di two-year investigation, wey dey in collaboration wit international media platform Open Democracy, involve more dan 15 BBC journalists across three continents.
Dem gada old video recordings, documents, and hundreds of hours of interviews to confam Rae testimony and dem discover more harrowing stories.
More dan 25 eyewitnesses, from UK, Nigeria, Ghana, US, South Africa and Germany, provide accounts of wetin e be like inside Joshua compound, wit di most recent experiences for 2019.
Di Synagogue Church of All Nations no respond to di allegations, but tok say previous claims bin dey baseless.
Former followers previously don try to speak out about abuse, but dem say Scoan bin silence or discredit, and two pipo say dem bin dey physically assaulted.
Wen BBC Africa Eye bin dey feem outside di church, one security guard fire gunshot shot ova di heads of di crew and dem refuse to release dia material.
Many of our interviewees don waive dia legal right to anonymity, in most cases some ask say make dem no use dia surnames. Odas request say dem want make dia identities remain hidden for fear of reprisals.
Di man for di heart of Scoan dey regarded as one of di most influential pastors for African history.
E die unexpectedly, for June 2021, just days afta we record many of our first interviews.
On di day of im funeral, Lagos bin dey on hold as di crowds wey dey mourn full streets.
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Wetin we call dis foto,
TB Joshua dey very influential for Nigeria – and across di world
Some 50,000 pipo dey attend Joshua services every week, and di church become top site for foreign visitors wey dey come Nigeria.
Im global television and social media empire dey among di most successful Christian networks for di world, wit millions of viewers from Europe, Di Americas, South East Asia and Africa. Im YouTube channel get hundreds of millions of views.
Di church still dey popular today, im widow Evelyn and one new team of disciples dey in charge now.
One interview wit Nelson Mandela daughter for 2013 show one portrait of Joshua on top di desk of di former South Africa president.
Wen e dey alive, Joshua bin attract dozens of politicians and celebrities come im church, including sporting legends like Chelsea FC striker Didier Drogba and at least nine African presidents.
For support and information on sexual abuse, please consult dis BBC Actionline within di UK. And for more information on cults, please see The Family Survival Trust
E gada many of followers sake of im philanthropic work, but most come for im so-called miracles.
Joshua systematically feem spectacular “healings” throughout im career. Afta Joshua pray for dem, individuals go share testimony of dia healing on camera from sicknesses wey range from cancer and HIV/Aids, to chronic migraines and blindness.
“We never… see anything like dat before,” Solomon Ashoms, one journalist wey dey cover African religion tok.
“Di mysteries e get, di secrets e carry, na wetin make pipo dey follow am.”
Some Joshua videos show men wit seriously infected genitals, wey burst open and den e go miraculously heal dem wen e raise im arm in prayer. Odas show women wey dey struggle to give birth, wey instantly born dia children wen Joshua approach. Afta each event, those wey dey involved go testify say dem dey saved.
Wia dis foto come from, Journeyman Pictures
Wetin we call dis foto,
TB Joshua deliberately woo Westerners to market im brand, former insiders tok
Video tapes of Joshua healings bin spread among evangelical churches throughout Europe and Africa for di late 1990s and early 2000s.
Rae, wey grow up wit conservative Christian values, bin dey inspired to travel go Lagos afta she watch these videos, wey one of her South African friend show her
“I be gay and I no wan be gay,” she tok. “I think say: ‘Well, maybe dis na di answer to my problems. Maybe dis man fit make me straight. Like if e pray for me, I no go be gay again.'”
Anoda British woman, Anneka, from Derby, for di Midlands, tok say na di videos also attract her.
Wetin we call dis foto,
Anneka for inside one foto for BBC studio interview, she wear white jumper
“Di whole room bin silent completely,” she tok as she describe di moment her church congregation bin first encounter di tapes wen she be 16.
“Dis na wetin Jesus for do,” she remember say she think like dat. She, too, carry her body travel go Nigeria.
Neither Rae nor Anneka, nor many of di young pipo wey comot dia home kontris to meet Joshua for di early 2000s, pay for dia tickets.
Church groups across England bin raise funds to send pilgrims go Lagos to witness these miracles – and Joshua too contribute Scoan money, one senior former church insiders tok. Later, wen di church don dey well established, e begin charge high prices for pilgrims make dem come and stay.
Bisola, one Nigerian wey spend 14 years inside di compound, tok say im collaboration wit Westerners na key tactic.
“E bin use white pipo market im brand,” she tok.
Former insiders estimate say, Joshua make tens of millions of dollars from pilgrims plus oda money streams – fundraising, video sales, and stadium appearances abroad. E rise from poverty to become one of Africa richest pastors.
Wetin we call dis foto,
Agomoh Paul tok say im bin dey in charge of di “miracles” production
“Dat guy [na] genius,” Agomoh Paul tok, e be one man wey pipo bin regard as Joshua number two for di church, e comot afta 10 years for di compound.
“Everything… [e do] dey planned.”
One major part of dis planning na faking of di “miracles” Agomoh Paul, wey claim say im dey oversee dis part tok .
Im plus oda sources tok say dem dey often pay those wey dey “cured” to perform or exaggerate dia symptoms before dia supposed healing take place. For some cases, dem say, dem dey unknowingly drug or give pipo medicine to improve dia conditions wen dem dey di church, and go later persuade dem to give testimony about dia recovery. Dem lie give odas say dem test positive for HIV/Aids and, thanks to Joshua ministrations, now dem don dey free from di virus.
Wen Rae bin land for Lagos, she see miracles too. Dozens of pipo bin come out to share testimony say dem dey healed of serious illnesses.
“I bin get really involuntary reaction. I just break down begin cry,” she tok.
Na dat time Rae dey chosen. Joshua bin single her out to become a “disciple” – one elite group of followers wey dey serve am and dey live wit am inside im compound.
Rae bin think say she go dey study under Joshua, to “cure” her sexuality, to learn how to heal pipo.
Di reality dey very different.
“All of us bin tink say we dey heaven, but we dey hell,” she tok. “And for hell terrible things happun.”
Disciples: Di Cult of TB Joshua
One shocking journey into network of manipulation and terrifying abuse wey one of di most powerful religious figures of di 21st Century perpetrate.
Sixteen of di former disciples wey we interview, including Rae, provide first-hand testimony of sexual assault or rape by Joshua. Many say e happun frequently – as much as two to four times a week – for di duration of dia time for di compound. Some describe violent rapes wey leave dem struggling to breath or bleeding.
Many bin believe say na only dem e dey assault and no dare share wetin dey happun to dem wit di oda disciples, as dem encourage all of dem to report on each oda.
According to Victoria, wey ask us to change her name for safety reasons, and wey spend more dan five years for di compound, Joshua dey personally pick oda sexual assault victims from di church congregation.
She say e pick am wen she dey attend di church Sunday school, she say she dey raped for Joshua private quarters few months later, afta her parents entrust her into im care. She come dey recruited as resident disciple.
Victoria say Joshua order some of im most trusted Nigerian disciples to help identify new victims. Di group dey informally known as di “fishing department” and dem force her to join.
Anoda disciple wey dey involved for similar recruitment na Bisola.
Wetin we call dis foto,
Bisola say Joshua force her to select young women for am to abuse
“TB Joshua bin ask me to recruit virgins for am… So dat e go fit bring dem into di disciple-fold, and disvirgin dem,” she tok.
She bin do am because of both “indoctrination” and threats of violence, she tok, she add say Joshua rape her repeatedly.
A number of women say dem bin dey under di age of legal of consent – wey be 18 for Lagos state – wen dem dey sexually assaulted or raped. Dis offence fit lead to di death penalty for Nigeria.
Jessica Kaimu, wey be broadcast journalist for Namibia now, tok say she just be 17 and a virgin wen Joshua rape her for di bathroom of im penthouse, within weeks wen she become disciple.
Wetin we call dis foto,
Jessica Kaimu tok say TB Joshua rape her repeatedly
“I dey shout and e whisper to my ear say make I stop to dey act like baby… I bin dey so traumatised, I no fit cry,” she tok.
Jessica tok say dis tin happun again and again, throughout di five years she spend as a disciple. Her account na di same wit dat of oda women wey follow BBC tok, di tori na also di same wit dat of four of Joshua personal male servants wey dia work na to clear up physical evidence of dis abuse.
Many of di details of our interviewees’ accounts dey too graphic to publish. Dem include multiple first-hand accounts of women wey e strip naked, and rape wit objects – including one woman wey tok say e happun to her two times before di age of 15.
“E dey so painful, e violated me,” di woman, wey ask to remain anonymous, tok. “Words no fit properly express it. E damage me for life.”
A number of interviewees wey tok say Joshua rape dem and dem later get belle for am, explain how dem do forced abortions for dem inside di compound – for one area wey dey known as di “medical department” or “clinic”.
“Everytin dey happun in secret,” Sihle, one South African former disciple, wey tok say she do three forced abortions for di church tok.
“Dem go give you one concoction to drink and e go make you sick. Or dem go put dis metal pieces for your vagina and dem extract whatever. And you know no weda dem dey [accidentally] pull out your womb.”
Sihle cry throughout her interview, like Jessica wey tok say dem give her five forced abortions.
Bisola say she witness “dozens” of abortions during her 14 years inside di church. At times, she say she go climb go di highest floor of di compound and cry, she go beg God to save her.
Di disciples dey minister to am im every need. Dem dey give am massages, dress am up, spray am perfume wen e enta di room. Dem dey put plastic gloves for im hands so dat e go fit chop im food without touching a crumb.
Rather dan to call am by im name, all of dem dey encouraged to address am as “Daddy”. Na common thing to address Nigerian pastor for di Pentecostal tradition dis way, but di disciples say na one term Joshua insist on.
“e be like say my mind dey shake,” Anneka tok. “Nothing dey clear at all… Reality dey sketchy completely.”
Di physical design of di compound bin deepen dia disorientation.
Wia dis foto come from, Emmanuel TV, SCOAN
Wetin we call dis foto,
Rae dey preach for Synagogue Church of all Nations for one of dia broadcasts – di disciples say dem work unpaid for di church for long hours each day
“Di staircases be like maze,” Rae tok.
For 2014, di construction cost lives. One six-storey guest house dem build for international guests collapse, and kill at least 116 pipo.
One local government report bin find out say structural failure and shoddy building work to be di cause of di collapse. Dem no ever prosecute anybody.
Some of our interviewees tell us say dem believe say di death toll pass di number wey dey reported. Dem explain say dem no list some Nigerian nationals wey bin dey work on di guesthouse as victims, plus church members rescue block rescue attempts and dem hide bodies for night.
Dem tok say Joshua bin also no allow emergency services render rescue efforts immediately di incident happun, as e dey conscious of im public profile and no want make im name spoil.
Im grip on communication always dey tight, our sources tok.
Rae say na only afta she comot she realise say her family and friends often dey send her emails. But she no ever get any of dem.
Joshua limit disciples access to phones and email accounts, our interviewees tok.
“E wan control everybody, everything,” Agomoh Paul tok. “Wetin e really dey push for na di control of pipo minds.”
Di disciples say e make dem work, without pay, for long hours each day – running all aspects of di megachurch. All of dem say lack of sleep na routine, and dem no dey off light for di dormitories at night.
Anneka say dem no ever get more dan four hours of sleep at a time.
Wetin we call dis foto,
Scoan continue to thrive today, under di leadership of Joshua widow, Evelyn
If dem catch anyone dey sleep without permission, or e disobey any of Joshua rules, dat pesin go chop punishment.
Nineteen former disciples describe di violent attacks or torture dem witness within di compound, wey Joshua carry out imself or di ones wey happun on im orders.
Oda disciples describe how dem dey naked dem, come beat dem wit electrical cables and one horse whip wey dey known as koboko. Among those wey dem allegedly target dis way na trainee disciples wey dey as young as seven.
Di compound for Lagos get 12ft-high [3.7m] walls and armed guards. But wetin really keep di disciples for dia na di fanatical loyalty e generate, and deep-rooted fears wey Joshua put for dia body about wetin fit hapun to dem if dem escape.
“Na psychological prison,” Rae tok. “E dey extremely difficult to understand how pesin fit go through psychological abuse to di extent say dem go lose dia critical thinking.”
“Scoan fit di definition of a cult rather precisely,” Dr Alexandra Stein, one honorary fellow for di University of Sussex and member of The Family Survival Trust, wey dey raise public awareness of cult groups tok.
She don follow plenty Scoan survivors tok, and she say Joshua dey isolate im victims, and put dem through “coercively controlling processes of stress, fear, guilt and shame”.
She add say, e mean say dem go become to afraid too leave. All di BBC interviewees bin tok of “brainwashing”, “indoctrination” and “mind control” – and many describe life as a disciple under Joshua like say dem dey inside “cult”.
Rae say for her, na di psychological torture leave di deepest scars on her. She say Joshua bin subject her to a form of punishment wey dey known as “adobe” for two years, during which, dem forbid her from leaving di compound, and nobody inside dey allowed to talk to her.
“I basically dey for total isolation… I bin get complete breakdown,” she tok. “I bin try to commit suicide five times.”
Wetin we call dis foto,
Rae now dey for di UK afta 12 years for Scoan compound
Sake of say dem push her to di brink, something crack for Rae mind. Twelve years of indoctrination begin dey scatter.
“E make one big mistake, e lost control of me,” she tok.
As she dey travel wit di church for one tour go Mexico, Rae sneak away from di disciples. She no ever go back.
Her life now dey very different. But she get to live wit di disappointment say no way dey to hold Joshua to account.
“For TB Joshua to die before e face justice for di atrocities e commit, dey deeply frustrating. E only add to di gross sense of injustice wey all of us feel as im victims.”
We contact Scoan wit di allegations for our investigation. Dem no respond to dem, but dem deny previous claims against TB Joshua.
“Making unfounded allegations against Prophet TB Joshua no be new occurrence… None of di allegations ever dey proven,” dem write.
Additional reporting by Maggie Andresen, Yemisi Adegoke and Ines Ward…CONTINUE READING>>
