Narrow escape for 10 Batswana

A guesthouse for international visitors within TB Joshua’s sprawling Synagogue Church of All Nations compound in Lagos collapsed on Friday with scores of worshippers feared trapped, injured or dead. While Nigerian officials put the death count at “over 80”, the South African government said 67 South Africans alone were confirmed dead.

Speaking from Abuja yesterday, High Commissioner Matshwenyego Fisher said he had spoken to all 10 Batswana who reported that they had been in adjacent building to the multi-storey guesthouse at the time of the collapse.