NEWS
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 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned motorists against driving against traffic, popularly known as one-way, cautioning that influential connections or calls from senior police officers and government officials will not shield offenders from prosecution.
The Command said the practice, particularly around road construction sites, diversion points and restricted routes, poses serious risks to lives and property.
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In a press statement issued on Monday, November 9, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said the Command was concerned about the increasing disregard for traffic regulations by motorists who deliberately drive against traffic, ignore road signs and bypass designated diversions to avoid congestion.
Adeh stressed that no individual, regardless of status, position or connections, would be exempted from the consequences of violating traffic regulations.
She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammad Sanusi, had directed the Command’s Motor Traffic Department (MOTOPOL) and all Divisional Traffic Officers (DTOs) to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to intensify enforcement operations.
According to the statement, the directive includes the arrest and immediate prosecution of motorists caught driving against traffic or disobeying lawful traffic instructions.
The Commissioner also warned police officers involved in the enforcement exercise against exploiting the operation to extort motorists, stressing that any officer found engaging in such misconduct would face disciplinary action in line with existing police rules and regulations.
The Command urged motorists to exercise patience, obey traffic signs and follow instructions from authorised traffic officers, noting that saving a few minutes through reckless driving was not worth the risk of losing lives or damaging property.
It also called on residents to remain security-conscious and report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.
The Command provided the following emergency contact numbers for security-related reports: 08032003913 and 08061581938.
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, CP Ahmed Muhammad Sanusi, has inspected security deployments at churches across the territory, urging officers to maintain professionalism and vigilance during religious activities.
The inspection was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh.
Sanusi conducted the inspection on November 8, 2026, to assess the operational readiness of personnel deployed to worship centres and evaluate security arrangements for residents and worshippers.
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The exercise followed a similar inspection of mosques across the FCT on Friday, November 6, as the Command sustained efforts to strengthen security around religious centres.
During the visits, the police commissioner charged officers to remain professional and responsive in the discharge of their duties.
He also commended residents for their peaceful and orderly conduct following mosque and church services, noting that public cooperation remained essential to maintaining security and public order across the territory.
The commissioner urged residents to continue cooperating with the police and other law enforcement agencies, remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the nearest police station.
He further encouraged residents to utilise the Command’s emergency lines, 08032003913 and 08061581938, to report security concerns.
Adeh said the Command’s Public Relations Office remained open and accessible to members of the public for enquiries, complaints, information and other security-related matters.
The FCT Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting residents and worshippers and maintaining security across the Federal Capital Territory.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development was disclosed on Friday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President.
Akwa Ibom occupies a strategic position in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with major federal investments expected to strengthen infrastructure and economic activities across the state.
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One of the major projects is the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, which has an approximately 82.8-kilometre stretch passing through Akwa Ibom.
The project, according to the statement, “promises improved connectivity, expanded trade, greater investment and new economic opportunities for communities across the region.”
Beyond infrastructure, the administration’s interventions in education, agriculture, healthcare, youth empowerment and social protection are also designed to improve livelihoods and broaden economic participation.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) is among the initiatives highlighted, complementing Governor Umo Eno’s investments in roads, aviation, tourism and human capital development.
The statement noted that the Uyo rally provides “another opportunity to strengthen the APC’s growing political presence in the South-South and make the case for continuity in 2027.”
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