Late Nigerian megachurch leader TB Joshua has been exposed for hiding dead bodies and intimidating families to cover up his role in the collapse of a building that killed at least 116 people at his church in Lagos in 2014. The BBC’s investigation, which includes testimonies from insiders of TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan), reveals shocking details of the incident and the alleged cover-up orchestrated by the pastor.
The collapse of the building, which occurred nearly 10 years ago, is one of the worst disasters to have struck a place of worship in Africa. Initially, TB Joshua publicly claimed that the collapse was linked to an aircraft flying over the building. However, an inquiry by a Lagos coroner concluded that structural failure was the cause and that the building had been constructed without proper planning permission.
Eyewitnesses who were former disciples of TB Joshua have come forward to reveal that the pastor was aware of serious structural problems prior to the collapse. They claim that he received a report stating that the building was “swaying” and “shaking” just hours before it collapsed. Despite this knowledge, TB Joshua allegedly led more than 200 visitors into the building’s dining room on the ground floor, where they were trapped and killed when all six storeys of concrete collapsed on them.
Survivors and witnesses describe a horrific scene of injured victims, with missing eyes and limbs, trapped under fallen beams. They also reveal that TB Joshua ordered his workers to construct additional floors on the building, even though the foundations were not built to support such a structure.
Furthermore, TB Joshua allegedly blocked emergency services from accessing the collapse site for 24 hours, while church workers attempted to rescue people using makeshift methods without proper equipment or medical training. Witnesses recount instances of a church worker using a chainsaw to amputate the leg of a trapped man, causing immense pain and uncertainty about his survival.
In the aftermath of the collapse, TB Joshua reportedly instructed his workers to remove piles of dead bodies from the site during the night to hide them from the media and authorities. Church representatives also tried to give money to the families of the victims, with the aim of silencing them and discouraging them from speaking to the press.
The Nigerian authorities initially recommended charging TB Joshua with criminal negligence, but he never attended court despite multiple summons. Former disciples claim that he distributed large sums of cash to individuals with influence over the proceedings, including the families of the victims. Journalists were also allegedly provided with financial incentives to shape their reporting.
To this day, many members of Scoan still believe that a mysterious aeroplane caused the collapse, as the church has produced videos supporting this claim. The former guest house remains a ruin, and no one has been prosecuted for the incident.
The BBC’s investigation sheds light on the alleged corruption, negligence, and cover-up surrounding the collapse of TB Joshua’s church building. It highlights the need for justice for the victims and their families, as well as transparency and accountability within religious institutions. The revelations also raise questions about the safety and regulation of places of worship in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
