- TB Joshua abused his disciples for decades | Victims speak out in BBC documentary
- The dark side of TB Joshua’s ministry | BBC documentary reveals shocking allegations of rape, torture and abuse
- The cult of TB Joshua | BBC documentary | Inside the Nigerian Preacher’s Empire of Fear and Faith
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The BBC has released a shocking documentary that exposes the dark side of the late Nigerian preacher TB Joshua, who was revered by millions of followers across Africa and beyond.
The documentary, titled DISCIPLES: The Cult of TB Joshua, reveals how he allegedly raped, tortured, and abused his disciples over a period of almost 20 years.
Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua
The documentary, which is divided into three parts, each lasting about 50 minutes, was aired on the BBC in the early hours of January 8, 2024. It features interviews with former disciples of TB Joshua, who share their harrowing experiences of living and working in his church, the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), in Lagos, Nigeria.
Some of the victims, who spoke with pain and tears, said they were deceived into believing that they were the only ones that TB Joshua was abusing, unaware that he was doing the same to many others. They also accused him of being greedy, manipulative, and vengeful and of using his influence to silence any opposition or criticism.
The documentary also shows how TB Joshua rose to fame and power, attracting millions of followers worldwide who sought his healing and deliverance from various afflictions. He also had close ties with many political leaders who visited his church or invited him to their countries.
Who was TB Joshua?
TB Joshua, whose full name was Temitope Balogun Joshua, was a charismatic pastor, televangelist, and philanthropist. He was the founder and leader of SCOAN, one of Africa’s largest megachurches, which runs the Emmanuel TV station from Lagos. He was born on June 12, 1963, in Ondo, Nigeria, and died on June 5, 2021, at his base in Lagos, Nigeria.
He claimed to have miraculous powers, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, and prophesying the future. He had more than five million followers on Facebook and over one million subscribers on YouTube before his channel was suspended for alleged hate speech.
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He was also known for his humanitarian work, such as donating money, food, and medical supplies to various causes.
However, he was also a controversial figure who faced opposition and criticism from other Nigerian pastors, who accused him of being a fraud and a cult leader. He was also blacklisted by the government of Cameroon in 2010 for allegedly causing social unrest.
He was involved in a legal battle over the collapse of his church building in 2014, which killed at least 116 people, mostly South Africans. He denied any wrongdoing and blamed a mysterious aircraft for the incident.
Watch videos below:
The documentary is available to watch online on the BBC website and on YouTube. There is also an exclusive screening scheduled in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at the Silverbird Cinema. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and some of the victims.
Nigerian Prophet calls out church members over inadequate offerings
Meanwhile, Nigerian clergyman Prophet Okeke called out his church members for not giving a substantial amount as offerings despite the fact they are blessed with much.
In the video trending online, Prophet Okeke expressed his disappointment at churchgoers who claimed to possess substantial wealth but only offered very small sums to God.