Share

Preacher suggests sabotage over building collapse

Lagos - Nigerian preacher and televangelist TB Joshua on Sunday linked a deadly building collapse at his Lagos megachurch to a suspicious aircraft but rescue workers ruled out the theory of foul play.

Joshua, dubbed "The Prophet" by fanatical followers because of his purported predictions and healing powers, showed footage of the moments leading up to the collapse on his network.

Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 42 people were killed in Friday's incident, while 130 escaped or were pulled out alive from the rubble.

In the security camera footage, apparently from opposite the vast church compound, what is described as an aircraft is seen over the building four times at 11:30, 11:43 am, 11:45 and 11:54 am.

The uncompleted building, five floors of which are visible above a high wall, is then seen to collapse at 12:44, throwing up huge clouds of dust into the air.

"After the incident, the strange aircraft does not return," a commentary accompanying the images adds.

There was no independent verification of the authenticity of the footage but Joshua has said he would make it available to Nigeria's security agencies.

His Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is located in Ikotun, near Lagos international airport.

Rescue work delayed

Joshua's theory about the low-flying plane featured in a number of Nigerian newspapers on Sunday.

But NEMA's southwest coordinator Ibrahim Farinloye rejected claims of sabotage and said extra floors were being added to the building without changing the foundations.

"If it were an act of terrorism or sabotage, it would have gone into rubble," he told AFP at the scene.

Building collapses are common in Nigeria because of the use of sub-standard material and flouting of construction regulations.

NEMA rescue workers were only able to access the site properly at 09:00 on Sunday and the emergency services and media had previously complained of being attacked by church security.

The Lagos state building control agency also complained that its officials were obstructed and Farinloye indicated more lives could have been saved had rescuers been able to get to the building sooner.

Rescuers wearing protective facemasks and boots used excavators to remove slabs of flattened concrete and were hunting for anyone still trapped under the wreckage of twisted metal and masonry.

The building was believed to be a guesthouse for foreign members of SCOAN and green mattresses were clearly visible among the debris.

It was not known how many people were inside the building when it collapsed.

But Joshua preaches to massive crowds at the megachurch every week and, according to his website, SCOAN "hosts thousands of national and international visitors" each year.

"People travel from around the world to witness and receive from the mighty work that God is doing in the life of Prophet TB Joshua," it states.

Joshua said on his Facebook page TB Joshua Ministries that reports that the church auditorium had collapsed and that there had been heavy casualties were not correct.

"The few people that were there are being rescued," he said on Friday.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 528 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 745 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.90
+0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.85
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.38
+0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE