An uncle of Nigerian-British boxing champion Anthony Joshua, Adedamola Joshua, has described the deep shock and trauma the family is grappling with following the fatal road accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends.
Speaking with PUNCH, Adedamola said the family did not immediately learn of the incident through social media but was informed hours later through a phone call.
“Well, some of us are not really used to social media, so we didn’t get to hear of it on time,” he said.
“Around 1 pm, one of my church members, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, called to inform me of the accident, and it was like I had never in my life heard that people were involved in an accident.
“How can Anthony Joshua be involved in an accident? It sounded so impossible, but it actually happened; it is unfortunate.”
He said the news left the family devastated, especially as the boxer had only arrived in Nigeria hours earlier and was heading to Sagamu to spend time with relatives.
“It has really left us in shock because this is not the first, second or third time he has been coming home, so what happened? Why now?” he asked.
“He arrived in the country just six hours earlier and was eager to see his family in Sagamu, only for things to go the way they went.”
According to him, Joshua deliberately chose family time over high-profile engagements.
He said: “He could have decided to say that he wanted to spend time with the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, or other influential Nigerians, but he said he wanted to be with his family in Sagamu. It is really painful that such an incident happened.”
He explained that the boxer’s Yuletide visits to Nigeria were routine and not tied to any special event, noting that the family’s annual gathering had ceased after the death of a senior family member who coordinated it.
Adedamola Joshua criticised what he described as Nigeria’s weak emergency response system following the accident.
“I want to condemn the lackadaisical attitude of our government towards anything emergency,” he said.
“To see Joshua crossing the median after the accident when he was supposed to be on a stretcher was distressing.”
He added that the response would have been different abroad.
“If it had been abroad, a helicopter would have arrived at the scene within five minutes for evacuation,” Joshua’s uncle said.
He also called for ambulances to be stationed along accident-prone highways, rather than focusing solely on document checks.
“It is not enough to have officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps checking vehicle documents; let there be ambulances stationed along this road,” he said.
Adedamola Joshua also decried the conduct of some bystanders who reportedly filmed the scene instead of helping victims.
“Some Nigerians act badly at accident scenes. When they are supposed to help, you will see them bringing out their phones to make videos and even steal from victims,” he said.
He alleged that Anthony Joshua’s phone was stolen during the chaos and called for greater public enlightenment on emergency response and toll-free numbers.
Despite his criticisms, Adedamola Joshua commended the response of government authorities after the incident.
“The government has sincerely done its best,” he said, praising the efforts of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Sanwo-Olu for ensuring the boxer received quality medical care.
He also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu personally reached out to the boxer and his parents.
Adedamola said: “The President has spoken to him and his parents and assured them of the government’s support at all times.”
Commenting on the driver involved in the crash, Adedamola Joshua said he had no personal knowledge of him but questioned reports of reckless driving.
“For a driver to be said to be on top speed and overtaking at the same time leaves much to be desired,” he said.
He suggested that the government should provide professional drivers and security details for national icons like Anthony Joshua whenever they are in the country.
Reflecting on the emotional toll of the tragedy, he said the family’s festive mood was completely overshadowed by grief.
“How can you celebrate when your son is in the hospital and two of his friends are being taken back in body bags?” he asked.
While expressing relief over Joshua’s discharge from hospital, he said the family remained traumatised.
He said: “We thank God he was discharged, but we keep thinking how good it would have been if his two friends had survived.”
Adedamola Joshua concluded by offering condolences to the families of the deceased.
“On behalf of the Joshuas at home and in the diaspora, we register our condolences with the families and associates of the friends of our beloved son whose lives came to an abrupt end. We pray that their souls rest in peace,” he said.