September, Friday 20, 2024

Uncovering the Truth: Pastor TB Joshua's Efforts to Conceal the Deadly Lagos Building Collapse


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New evidence has been uncovered by the BBC suggesting that the late Nigerian megachurch leader TB Joshua hid dead bodies and intimidated families to cover up his involvement in the 2014 collapse of a building that killed at least 116 people at his church. This tragic event is one of the worst disasters to ever occur in an African place of worship. The investigation by the BBC is the first time that insiders from TB Joshua's Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) have come forward with evidence of what caused the incident and how the pastor orchestrated a cover-up. This follows previous revelations of abuse and torture by the founder of one of the world's largest Christian evangelical churches. TB Joshua initially claimed that the collapse was linked to an aircraft flying over the building, but an inquiry by a Lagos coroner determined that structural failure was the cause and that the building had been constructed without proper planning permission. Eyewitnesses interviewed by the BBC stated that TB Joshua had been alerted to serious structural issues before the collapse and that the aeroplane explanation was a lie. They describe how more than 200 visitors were led into the building's dining room on the ground floor, where they were eating lunch when the collapse occurred. Many were instantly killed, while others were trapped inside alive. There were reports of people crying out for help, with voices gradually fading away as they succumbed to their injuries. Horrific injuries, such as missing eyes and limbs, were reported among the victims. Former disciples of TB Joshua revealed that the pastor had ordered the construction of additional floors without considering the building's foundations and that the structure was not built to accommodate the height he desired. They also accused TB Joshua of blocking emergency services from accessing the site for 24 hours after the collapse, during which time church workers attempted dangerous rescue efforts using tools from the maintenance department. There are even accounts of a man having his leg amputated with a chainsaw. Church insiders claimed that TB Joshua subsequently ordered the removal of piles of dead bodies during the night to hide them from the media and authorities. The death toll is believed to be higher than the officially reported figure, and there are allegations of cash being distributed to individuals with influence over proceedings to ensure their silence. The Nigerian authorities initially took a strong stance on the disaster, with the Lagos coroner recommending that TB Joshua be charged with criminal negligence. However, the pastor never attended court despite multiple summons. There are reports that he provided significant amounts of money to individuals involved in the proceedings, including families of the victims, as well as journalists who were given financial incentives to control the narrative. TB Joshua's church, Scoan, did not respond to the allegations but denied previous claims against him. Nearly a decade later, no one has been prosecuted for the collapse, and the former guest house remains in ruins. The victims' families continue to seek justice, and many members of Scoan still believe that an unknown aircraft caused the collapse. This investigation conducted by Africa Eye sheds light on the tragedy and the alleged cover-up orchestrated by TB Joshua, who passed away in June 2021.