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At 19, I was Left Homeless On The Streets Of Lagos – TB Joshua’s Daughter
In a shocking revelation, the BBC has uncovered the harrowing story of Ajoke, daughter of the late megachurch leader TB Joshua, who alleges years of torture at the hands of her own father.
The accusations include mass-scale sexual crimes and a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning almost two decades.
“My dad had fear, constant fear. He was very afraid that someone would speak up,” says Ajoke, one of the first whistle-blowers to approach the BBC about the abuse she witnessed at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan).
Raised by Evelyn, TB Joshua’s widow, Ajoke’s happy childhood took a dark turn at the age of seven when she was labeled an illegitimate child and sent to live in the Scoan compound in Lagos.
There, she faced relentless abuse as part of an elite group of followers known as disciples.
Refusing to conform, Ajoke became a target for severe punishments, including being beaten, publicly humiliated, and subjected to confinement known as “adaba.”
The abuse escalated when she confronted her father about widespread sexual abuse within the church.
At 19, Ajoke was cast out of the church, left homeless on the streets of Lagos.
Despite enduring years of hardship, she persisted in telling her story.
The BBC’s investigation, backed by corroborating testimonies from over 25 former disciples, sheds light on the alleged abuse at Scoan.
In her account she said: “I was made to move to the disciples’ room. I didn’t volunteer to be a disciple. I was made to join.”
Such abuse was never-ending, she says.
“We’re talking about years and years of abuse. Consistent abuse. My existence as a child from another mother undermined everything he [TB Joshua] claimed to stand for.
“I saw female disciples go up to his room. They were going away for hours. I was hearing things: ‘Oh this happened to me. He tried sleeping with me.’ Too many people were saying the same thing,” she says.
“I lost every iota of fear for this man,” Ajoke recalls, describing the day she confronted TB Joshua. The subsequent beating, witnessed by former disciples, marked a turning point for many who began to doubt their faith in the church.
“I couldn’t take it any more. I walked directly into his office on that very day. I shouted at the top of my voice: ‘Why are you doing this? Why are you hurting all these women?’
One day when Ajoke was 19, she says she was escorted to the front gates of the church and left there.
The church security, who were armed, were told she was never to be allowed back in. This was six years before her father died.
“I found myself homeless. I had nobody to reach out to. Nobody would believe me. Nothing prepared me for that life,” she says.
As a young woman with no money, Ajoke did what she could to survive and spent many years on the streets.
Scoan, when contacted by the BBC, did not respond to the allegations but denied previous claims against TB Joshua, stating, “None of the allegations was ever substantiated.”
Now off the streets with the support of former disciples and friends, Ajoke remains determined to seek justice and reveal the truth about her father.
Her dreams include returning to school to complete the education that was abruptly cut short.
“Every time I was beaten up, every time I was humiliated, it just reminded me there was something wrong in the system,” says Ajoke, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to truth and justice.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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