Megachurch accused of torture
A large number of members of one of the world’s largest evangelical churches say they have been subjected to rape, violence and torture by the late Nigerian pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua – also known as T.B. Joshua. Testimonies from alleged victims were collected by the BBC, which for two years has been investigating allegations of abuse by Joshua, who headed the Synagogue Church of all Nations. T.B. Joshua died in 2021. The Synagogue Church of All Nations has not responded to the allegations, but has previously said allegations of abuse were unfounded.
The attacks are alleged to have been committed over a period of 20 years in the Nigerian city of Lagos. Joshua founded the Synagogue Church of all Nations in 1987 and led it until his death in 2021. According to the BBC, “dozens” of witnesses have told of violence and torture committed by. These include the victims being whipped and tied up with chains. Some of the victims were reportedly children.
The Synagogue Church of All Nations operates the Christian television channel Emmanuel, which has millions of viewers around the world and broadcast T.B. Joshua’s sermons when he was alive. According to the BBC, supporters of the church flocked to Nigeria from Europe, North and South America, Southeast Asia and other African countries in the 1990s and 00s to see T.B. Joshua perform “healing miracles.” /ritzau/BBC/