By Fabian Ekeruche

Lagos, April 28, 2022

Church members prevented emergency responders from taking pictures at the scene of the fire that gutted the residence of late Prophet TB Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations on Wednesday.

The prophet’s private residence is located at Ajisegiri Street, Agodo area of Egbe, in Ikotun-Egbe axis of Lagos State.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Coordinator, Southwest Zone of the National Emergency Management Agency, made this known in Lagos on Thursday when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the fire started at about 8.20 p.m. on Wednesday, but was brought under control at about 9.35 p.m.

He commended federal fire fighters who worked with NEMA officials to put out the fire.

He also commended the church members for their immense support in putting out the fire which recorded no casualty or injury.

Farinloye said he could not explain why the church members prevented people from taking pictures of the fire and efforts made to put it out, however.

A similar experience was recorded on Sept. 12, 2014, when a guesthouse located within the church’s premises collapsed into rubbles.

Journalists who dared to raise their cameras where brutally beaten up by security men attached to the church.