ANTHONY JOSHUA’S FAMILY SPEAKS OUT AFTER FATAL CRASH — “WE ARE DEEPLY SADENED”

The family of heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has expressed profound sorrow after a road accident on Monday claimed the lives of two of his close associates. Joshua, who was traveling in a Toyota Lexus SUV with three other passengers, escaped with minor injuries, but the crash left the family shattered.

The tragedy unfolded around midday near Danco Filling Station on the Makun axis of the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway, just before the Sagamu Interchange. Two passengers — *Ayodele Kelvin Olu*, 36, a Nigerian‑British citizen, and *Gami Sina*, 36, a British citizen — died at the scene. Both men were longtime members of Joshua’s team, with Sina serving as his strength‑and‑conditioning coach and Olu as his personal trainer.

Speaking to journalists at the family home in Ijokun, Sagamu, Joshua’s uncle *Mr. Adedamola Joshua* described the moment they learned of the accident. “When the crash happened, the Deputy Inspector‑General of Police, DIG Soyanwo, called me directly,” he said. “He asked for contact details of our family lawyer and another relative — I gave him the numbers of Jumoke Coker and Oye Joshua.”

Adedamola revealed that the accident occurred less than six hours after Joshua and his companions arrived in Nigeria for the festive season. “We were on our way to Sagamu to spend Christmas with family when this horror struck,” he added. “Our son Anthony is alive — thank God — but two of his friends, who came to celebrate with us, are gone. This is a tragedy not just for our family, but for Ogun State, Nigeria, and the world.”

While extended family members have not yet been granted access to Joshua — who is being treated at an undisclosed Lagos hospital — they remain in constant contact with his parents, who are also in Nigeria. “We’ve been assured he’s responding well to treatment,” Adedamola said. “We’re grateful to God for sparing his life and the driver’s, but our hearts ache for the two men who didn’t make it. We stand with their families in this moment of grief.”

Joshua’s elder uncle, Mr. David Joshua confirmed that the group was traveling from Lagos to Sagamu when the crash occurred. “We haven’t been allowed to see him yet, but authorities say he’s stable and improving,” he said.

Contrary to rumors, there are no plans to evacuate Joshua abroad for further care. A reliable source told Vanguard that the Lagos and Ogun state governments, alongside the British High Commission, have ruled out overseas medical evacuation. “We’re satisfied with the treatment he’s receiving here in Nigeria — there’s noticeable improvement,” the source said.

The Ogun State Police Command has attributed the accident to a *tyre burst*, according to spokesperson *Oluseyi Babaseyi*, who spoke on Tuesday with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). “The Lexus SUV lost control after a tyre burst, leading to the collision,” he said.

However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) maintains that *excessive speed and wrongful overtaking* were the primary causes. In a statement, the FRSC noted that Joshua’s vehicle was “travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit” and “lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre,” crashing into a stationary truck. “These violations are among the leading causes of fatal crashes on Nigerian highways,” the agency warned.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo‑Olu visited Joshua at the hospital on Monday, accompanied by *Simon Field*, Deputy Head of Mission of the British High Commission. Both governors spent several hours overseeing his care, while the British envoy coordinated support for the deceased’s families.

Senator Solomon Adeola representing Ogun West, expressed deep sympathy for Joshua, calling the incident “a sad event involving a boxing legend from Ogun State.” Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan* of Kogi Central echoed the sentiment, urging stronger enforcement of road‑safety laws nationwide.

Joshua remains in stable condition, with medical teams reporting steady progress. Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation, promising to release findings once the probe concludes.