TB Joshua church bars relatives from seeing injured - claim

The Family members of those injured in the church building collapse in Nigeria have alleged that the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) prevented them from visiting their loved ones in hospital.

The guesthouse building at the church's headquarters in Lagos collapsed on 12 September 2014, killing at least 115 people, including 84 South Africans. Dozens survived after being trapped under the rubble.

News Nigeria visited some of the hospitals where the injured are being treated, and observed that the church had directed hospital authorities to bar members of the public, including some relatives of the injured, from seeing them.

Some of the family members who spoke to News said all attempts to see their loved ones had been frustrated as they were prevented from gaining access to them.

They added that the church has been settling the bills of the patients.

Church maintains it was an attack

Meanwhile, the church has officially declined to comment on a number of allegations relating to the collapse, but an official maintains it was "an attack".

Ihechukwu Njoku, a member of the church’s media team, told our News men that some of the stories concerning the event are not the true reflection of what really happened.

He insisted that the incident was an attack on the church.

Asked how the plane could have caused the building to fall, he said the church doesn’t want to draw any conclusions yet as the investigation is still ongoing.

List

Njoku was also not forthcoming as to why the church has not made available a comprehensive list of names of those affected, almost two weeks after the disaster.

He denied insinuations that the church may not have a record of the names and identities of those who were in the building when it collapsed.

Njoku said the church had been careful with the list in order not to create tension and fear amongst family members. He noted that the church was working with the relevant authorities on this.

Although Njoku admitted he doesn’t have the real casualty figure, he said the number of people that died in the incident may not be as high as 115, as has been claimed by the South African government.

Silence, tension

Church members were not willing to speak to News men about the incident.

Similarly, residents in the area around the church were also not ready to talk for fear of being attacked, as church members have been stationed in the vicinity to monitor the church.

Those who agreed to talk preferred not to disclose their identities. They noted that it was ironic that Pastor TB Joshua could not foresee this disaster and act accordingly, despite the fact that he apparently predicted the outcome of events in the past.

Despite the fact that the incident occurred almost two weeks ago and the rescue operation has ended, the atmosphere in the area surrounding the church is still tense. Visitors to the church are properly screened before gaining entry into the church premises.

Church members who have no business are denied access to the site of the collapsed building, which is opposite the main church.