Nigerian preacher TB Joshua on Thursday broke his silence over a building collapse that killed 80 at his Lagos megachurch but denied lack of cooperation and stuck to his theory of possible aerial sabotage.
The popular televangelist, known as “The Preacher” or “The Man of God” to his thousands of followers in Nigeria and around the world, also indicated that other overseas nationals were involved.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday said that 67 of his compatriots were killed when a guesthouse for foreign followers of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) came down last Friday.
The death toll from the tragedy climbed after 10 more bodies were pulled from among the twisted metal and shattered masonry of the building on the sprawling SCOAN compound.
Joshua had not directly commented on the deaths and had only published Bible quotations on his Facebook site and Twitter account.
But in a statement he extended his sympathies to victims’ families and described those who died as “martyrs of the Kingdom of God”.
“The pain of one is the pain of all. It is indeed a sad and painful moment for the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones,” he said.
“To all those who lost family members and loved ones, please accept our heartfelt commiserations.”
Joshua said “Nigerians, South African and citizens of other nations were affected” but did not specify which countries or say whether they were among the dead, 131 injured or both.
South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, said 17 of his compatriots were unaccounted for and the church had set up a hotline in Johannesburg for concerned relatives.
“It (the death toll) can’t all be South Africans,” he told AFP. “There were also Nigerians who were working.”
Two children were pulled alive from the collapsed building but both their mother and father were among the missing, he added.
“They were under the rubble together with their father. Their father kept them talking to each other,” he said.
- ‘Good Christians are good citizens’ -
TB Joshua inspires an almost fanatical devotion from his thousands of followers around the world, who are drawn to his services by claims of miracle-working and prophecies.
But rescue workers have complained of a lack of cooperation from Joshua and the church authorities, which included preventing the emergency services from accessing the site until Sunday.
The southwest coordinator of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) said SCOAN officials had not disclosed the identities and nationalities of those in the building at the time.
Joshua rejected the lack of cooperation claims as “inaccurate”.
“Contrary to this, we want to categorically state that the church has provided assistance when and where required and continues to do so: good Christians are good citizens,” he said.
Engineers have suggested that the addition of extra floors on top of the existing building for foreign followers of the Pentecostal church overloaded the structure, causing the fatal collapse.
On Wednesday, the Lagos State government ordered urgent structural checks of all buildings on the SCOAN site while NEMA said that rescue operations could wind up on Thursday.
In South Africa, Zuma rejected criticism that his government was slow to respond to the tragedy.
Joshua, whose followers include heads of state and top-level politicians such as Malawi’s former president Joyce Banda, again suggested that a low-flying aircraft may have been to blame.
“This incident was preceded by the appearance of a strange aircraft which flew very low over the building four times and then disappeared,” he stated.
“The church views this tragedy as part of an attack on The Synagogue Church Of All Nations and in particular Prophet TB Joshua.
“In due course, God will reveal the perpetrators of this unfortunate tragedy.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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we pray the lord GOD to continue to strengthen our prophet in this trying moment, and may the soul of the departed rest in peace
ReplyDeleteProphet ko! Prophet Ni! Those found wanting and responsible for this tragedy must be prosecuted. Deception PLC! We remember. Rev king. Where is him today? Some people are too gullible that even some lower animal tend to have become more intelligent than them cos of rely.Just imagine! Prophet,Man of God,Daddy, Mummy, General Overseer,pastor etc. True religion makes one more reasonable in interacting with others.It does not make one stupid,unreasonable or foolish. So anybody who is gullible and foolish should know that that does not translate to holiness just like extremism does not make one holy. Ci kena!
ReplyDeleteGOD PUNISH U ND UR CHURCH OF SATAN.U SACIFISED INNOCENT LIVES.U AR ANOTHER BOKO HARAM
ReplyDeleteGod have mercy
ReplyDeleteWho ever trys to dstroy the children of God will not win the battle, "Greater is the on is us than the one in the world" , these are trying and tribulation period , and this is the begining of great things to come , Mya god strenghten us Christian during this period
ReplyDeleteWe are more than the conqures , who tried to destroy the children of God in that place is fighting a losing battle, "Greater is the one in us than the one in the world" condolence to the families
ReplyDeleteWe really need to educate ourselves including SCOAN regarding use of the word "Martyrs"
ReplyDeleteA Christian martyr is a person who is killed for following Christianity, through stoning, crucifixion, burning at the stake or other forms of torture and capital punishment. The word "martyr" comes from the Greek word mártys, which means "witness."
By this, the victims of the SCOAN tragedy are not "Martyrs" in any way. I am sorry to declare that they all died "Wrongful Death" which is very very unfortunate. When you died from a totally avoidable death then you have died wrongfully. This is unfortunate but it's the truth and fact of life.
Going by the submission above, it's only the majority of victims of the activities of a group like Boko Haram that can be called Martys of their respective faith. Since the majority of victims being referred to were slain/murder for refusing to accept the Boko Haram faith or doctrines.