The family of the world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua have spoken of their distress and uncertainty after being unable to see him following a fatal road accident on the Lagos–Ibadan expressway that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the family home in Ijokun, Sagamu, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, said the news of the crash had come as a “rude shock” and that relatives only learned of the incident after receiving a flurry of phone calls from friends and well-wishers.
“We did not get to hear this terrible news on time until calls started coming in from people seeking confirmation,” he said. “Anthony comes home three or four times a year, especially during the festive season, and it is usually a time to rejoice with family. This was completely unexpected.”
Joshua is believed to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Lagos. His uncle said that while the family had been in contact with the boxer’s parents, who are also in Nigeria, they had not been granted access to see him.
“We are all eager to see him, even if only three of us are allowed, but we understand the need to protect him given his global status,” he said.
The crash, which occurred around midday on Monday near the Sinoma axis of Sagamu, involved a black Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck. Two men travelling with Joshua, identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu, a 36-year-old Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina, a 36-year-old British citizen, were killed.
Expressing sympathy with the bereaved families, Joshua’s uncle said: “We are really sad that two people who were very close to Joshua did not survive. Our hearts are with their families and associates. We pray that the Lord gives them strength to bear this painful loss.”
Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it was awaiting the outcome of a full technical investigation into the crash, though preliminary assessments pointed to excessive speed as a likely factor.
“When you look at the impact of that crash, it is clear that the vehicle was likely exceeding the speed limit,” said the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide. “Although there was no speed-measuring device at the exact point of impact, trained officers can infer likely speed from the damage and force involved. Only a full technical investigation will determine the exact cause.”
Ogungbemide said five adult males were involved in the accident, with two dying instantly, and that emergency responders arrived at the scene within three minutes.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of reactions from political figures and community groups. Oladipupo Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Ogun state in 2023, described the crash as a “painful and sobering tragedy” that had darkened the festive period.
“Anthony Joshua remains a symbol of courage, discipline, resilience and national pride,” Adebutu said. “My thoughts and prayers are with him, the bereaved families and all affected by this unfortunate incident.”
The Sagamu Youth Association also expressed profound sadness, offering prayers for Joshua’s recovery and for the families of the deceased. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, called the crash “heart-wrenching and unacceptable”, using it to underline Nigeria’s persistent road safety challenges and urging the federal government to establish better rest stations and a dedicated highway emergency rescue system.
In the aftermath of the crash, the deputy head of mission at the British high commission, Simon Field, visited Joshua in hospital, while the governors of Ogun and Lagos states, Dapo Abiodun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, monitored his condition. President Bola Tinubu was also briefed and spoke separately with Joshua and his mother to convey his condolences.
As investigations continue, the boxer’s family say they are waiting anxiously for permission to see him, while supporters across Nigeria and beyond hope for his recovery after a tragedy that has shaken both the local community and the global sporting world.
