In a startling revelation, dozens of former members of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan), including five British citizens, have come forward with allegations of heinous abuses spanning almost two decades by the late Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua, who passed away in 2021. The accusations include rape, forced abortions, physical violence, and manipulation within the secretive Lagos compound.
The BBC, in collaboration with international media platform Open Democracy, conducted a two-year investigation, uncovering eyewitness accounts of physical violence, torture, child abuse, and sexual assault allegedly perpetrated by Joshua. Multiple women claim to have been repeatedly raped for years within the compound, with some reporting forced abortions following the assaults.
One victim, a British woman named Rae, detailed her 12-year ordeal inside the church, alleging sexual assault, solitary confinement, and attempted suicide. Over 25 former disciples from the UK, Nigeria, US, South Africa, Ghana, Namibia, and Germany provided corroborating testimony, describing their experiences as akin to being in a cult.
The BBC investigation further exposed accounts of manipulated “miracle healings” broadcast to millions worldwide. The report sheds light on the shocking journey into a maze of manipulation and terrifying abuse orchestrated by one of the most influential religious figures of the 21st century.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the Synagogue Church of All Nations did not respond to the investigation, emphasizing that previous claims against TB Joshua were unfounded.
The BBC revealed that witnesses who previously spoke out against the abuse faced physical attacks, including gunfire, in Nigeria. Additionally, a BBC crew attempting to record footage of the church’s compound was fired upon and detained by church security. The church remains operational under the leadership of TB Joshua’s widow, Evelyn, who led a tour of Spain in July 2023.
The investigation also exposed that some British citizens reported the abuse to UK authorities, but no further action was taken. Eyewitness accounts and video evidence, including recordings of individuals claiming to be police and church members holding victims at gunpoint, were sent to the British High Commission in Nigeria in 2010, with no reported action taken.
As survivors continue to speak out, calls for a thorough investigation into the Synagogue Church of All Nations and the actions of TB Joshua grow. The UK Foreign Office, when contacted, affirmed taking all reports of crime against British nationals seriously.
