vey Adedamola Joshua, an uncle of former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, has shared a painful experience of the accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends and left the family grappling with shock and grief. Speaking with BANKOLE TAIWO, he recalled on how the family received the news, the emotional toll of the tragedy, and concerns about emergency response in Nigeria.According to him, news of the accident did not reach the family through social media.
Instead, it came around 1 p.m. via a phone call from a church member who is a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police. The information was difficult to process. The idea that Anthony Joshua could be involved in such an incident felt unreal at first, he said, but the reality soon set in, leaving the family devastated.
The timing of the accident made the pain even worse. Joshua had arrived in Nigeria only about six hours earlier and was eager to reunite with his family in Sagamu. This was not an unusual visit, as he regularly returns in Nigeria during the festive season to spend time with loved ones. On this occasion, he chose family over meeting political leaders or other influential figures. That simple decision, his uncle noted, makes the tragedy even harder to accept.
Contrary to some public assumptions, there was no special family gathering planned. The extended Joshua family used to hold annual reunions, but those meetings ended years ago after the death of the elder brother who coordinated them. When Anthony Joshua visits, he typically spends time with notable figures such as Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and others.
On the whereabouts of Joshua’s parents, his uncle clarified that they are largely based in Nigeria, particularly his father, who manages business interests locally. His mother lives mainly in the United Kingdom with her son but travels home regularly. They were therefore not far away when the accident occurred.
He expressed strong dissatisfaction with the handling of the emergency response. Seeing Joshua walk across the median after the crash, instead of being placed on a stretcher and rushed into an ambulance, was distressing. In moments of trauma, he argued, stress should be minimized, not compounded. He compared the situation to what would likely happen abroad, where emergency helicopters and rapid evacuation are standard.
He also criticized the circulation of graphic images from the accident scene, calling it painful for families and survivors. Given the frequency of accidents on that stretch of road, he urged the government to station ambulances there permanently, not just officials checking vehicle documents.Addressing public criticism of bystanders who filmed the scene instead of helping, he condemned such behavior. He described it as deeply troubling that some people record videos or even steal from victims during emergencies.
He noted reports that Joshua’s phone was stolen at the scene, stressing that police and emergency responders must arrive quickly to secure accident sites.He also called for nationwide public education on emergency response, pointing out that many Nigerians do not even know which numbers to call during crises such as road accidents or fires.Despite these criticisms, he acknowledged the efforts of the government following the incident.
He praised Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for ensuring that Joshua received proper medical care. He also confirmed that President Bola Tinubu reached out personally to Joshua and his parents, offering support.Looking ahead, he suggested that high-profile national figures like Anthony Joshua should be provided with professional drivers and official escorts whenever they are in the country. While he does not know the driver involved in the crash, he questioned the judgment of anyone reportedly speeding and overtaking under such conditions.
The tragedy has cast a long shadow over the family’s festive season. Celebrations became impossible, he said, when Joshua was hospitalized and two young men who came to spend the holidays with him were being returned home in body bags. The family, accustomed to frequent international travel, has never experienced a loss of this nature. He described it as the most painful period the family has faced since the death of their patriarch in 1964.
The family felt some relief when Joshua was discharged from the hospital, but that relief remains incomplete. The loss of his friends continues to weigh heavily on everyone. As for speculation about the impact on Joshua’s boxing career, he said it remains uncertain. While some have suggested retirement, the family hopes the boxer will emerge stronger from the ordeal.
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Finally, he acknowledged that the incident could discourage Joshua from visiting home again, given the trauma of losing close friends so soon after their arrival. On behalf of the Joshua family in Nigeria and the diaspora, he extended condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for strength and peace for all those affected by the tragedy.
