Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua

Two young women in Britain watch a VHS tape that will change the course of their lives forever: a Nigerian preacher can apparently heal the sick, cure cancer and AIDS. They decide to visit his church in Lagos to meet him. Joshua invites the teenagers to become his disciples, joining dozens of other young people who live on the church premises and do his every bidding. But life as a disciple isn’t what they imagined.

Nigerian superpastor TB Joshua explodes onto the global stage with Emmanuel TV, one of the world’s most subscribed Christian channels. Behind closed doors in his church in Lagos, life is hard for his teenage ‘disciples’; they have dedicated their life to him and must obey his every command. His own daughter confronts him about alleged abuse and violence and pays a heavy price. A two-year investigation by BBC Africa Eye has revealed serious evidence of widespread violence and abuse.

TB Joshua’s miracles have gained him global recognition, and hundreds of foreigners visit his church in Lagos every week, seeking healing. But when TB Joshua’s church guesthouse collapses, killing 116, people start to ask questions. This episode reveals the unheard story of that devastating day, told by first-hand witnesses inside the compound. And as his disciples try to escape his church, TB Joshua does all that he can to ensure his darkest secrets stay hidden.