Lagos, January 3, 2026 –
The family of Nigerian-British boxing superstar Anthony Joshua is grappling with shock and trauma after a tragic accident claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends.
Adedamola Joshua, the boxer’s uncle, revealed that the family first learned of the accident through a phone call, not social media, highlighting the delayed flow of critical information.
“Well, some of us are not really used to social media, so we didn’t get to hear of it on time. But around 1 pm, one of my church members, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, called to inform me of the accident. It was like I had never in my life heard of people being involved in an accident,” he told PUNCH.
Anthony Joshua had only arrived in Nigeria six hours before the accident and was on his way to Sagamu to spend time with family, choosing relatives over political or high-profile meetings. The family described the timing and circumstances of the tragedy as particularly devastating.
Adedamola Joshua also criticized the country’s emergency response system, citing the lack of immediate medical care at the accident scene. “To see Joshua crossing the median after the accident when he was supposed to be on a stretcher was distressing. If it had been abroad, a helicopter would have arrived within five minutes,” he said.
He further condemned the behavior of bystanders who, instead of assisting, recorded videos or stole personal belongings. “Anthony Joshua’s phone was reportedly stolen during the chaos. Some Nigerians act badly at accident scenes; this is not right,” he added.
Despite these challenges, the family acknowledged the swift support provided by government authorities. Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State ensured Joshua received the best medical care, while President Bola Tinubu personally reached out to the boxer and his parents.
Addressing the driver involved in the crash, Adedamola Joshua questioned reports of reckless driving and suggested professional drivers and security details should be provided for national icons during visits.
While relieved that Joshua has been discharged from the hospital, the family remains deeply affected by the loss of his friends. “We thank God for his recovery, but we thought about how good it would have been if his two friends had survived the crash too,” he said.
The Joshua family concluded by offering condolences to the families of the deceased and expressed hope that the boxer would come out of this tragedy stronger than ever.
