trust to any individual, be it a political leader or a religious leader, and that is what this report has revealed, we have got to ask questions and we cannot sweep it under the carpet because if we have victims and survivors, justice is important for everyone who experienced that level of abuse and violation. , ., ., ., , experienced that level of abuse and violation. , ., ., ., violation. these allegations are historical and violation. these allegations are historical and they violation. these allegations are historical and they are - violation. these allegations are historical and they are specific. violation. these allegations are l historical and they are specific to tb joshua, historical and they are specific to tbjoshua, i should say. why did it take so long for the survivors to come forward and share their stories? ., ., , ., ., stories? for me, to understand how this interacts stories? for me, to understand how this interacts with stories? for me, to understand how thi
healings, where members of his congregation claimed to have been cured of aids, cancer and a range of chronic conditions. negative tested for hiv and hiv 2. everybody wanted the privilege to go with, to meet this. ..big giant. tb joshua s closest followers were known as disciples, and lived together for years inside his compound in nigeria. it was a psychological prison. we all thought we were in heaven, but we were in hell, and in hell terrible things happen. dozens of these insiders alleged that the pastor repeatedly assaulted, raped and tortured women behind closed doors, with the most recent incidents in 2019. it became so robotic. i disconnected from my body. i just became like. ..a puppet. rape became like a normal, terrifying thing that he would do. it s like you are an animal being slaughtered. i was 17 years old.
good morning, viewers all over the world. the bbc contacted the church with allegations in this report. they did not respond to them, but they said previous claims against tb joshua have been unfounded. today, the church still attracts millions of viewers to its online platforms. some people, they are still living in fear for their lives, in fear for the retribution that will come if they do open their mouths. peter murimi, bbc news. we can speak to the director of programmes at a human rights organisation. thanks forjoining us. very distressing details in the report and i wanted to get your reaction? . ~ report and i wanted to get your reaction? ., ~ , ., ., ., reaction? thank you, and i m glad we re having reaction? thank you, and i m glad we re having this reaction? thank you, and i m glad we re having this conversation i reaction? thank you, and i m gladl we re having this conversation and thatis we re having this conversation and that is because first we must
but no action was taken. bbc africa eye s peter murimi has more. everyone here in the stadium say, i lovejesus! tbjoshua was one of africa s most famous pastors, drawing presidents, premier league footballers and millions of followers across the globe. he had huge resources, huge amounts of influence, notjust in nigeria, throughout africa, israel, mexico, singapore. tbjoshua performed televised healings, where members of his congregation claimed to have been cured of aids, cancer and a range of chronic conditions. negative tested for hiv and hiv 2. everybody wanted the privilege to go with, to meet this. ..big giant. tb joshua s closest followers were known as disciples, and lived together for years
tbjoshua was the late founder of the synagogue church of all nations in nigeria and built an evangelical empire that counted dozens of political leaders, celebrities and international footballers as his associates. one of the survivors who spoke out isjessica kaimu from namibia. jessica was only a teenager when tb joshua recruited her as one of his closest followers. shejoins me now. thank you forjoining us, jessica. for being brave enough to speak to the bbc about your experiences. can you tell me, you were so young, just a teenager when you joined the church, what drew you to it? well, i was suicidal. church, what drew you to it? well, i was suicidal, growing church, what drew you to it? well, i was suicidal, growing up church, what drew you to it? well, i was suicidal, growing up as - church, what drew you to it? well, i was suicidal, growing up as a - was suicidal, growing up as a teenager and because i had a church background already. my grandfather was a pastor and i grew u