AJ’S FAMILY, SAGAMU COMMUNITY IN SHOCK OVER FATAL LAGOS–IBADAN CRASH
Read Time:2 Minute, 44 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The family of former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has described the news of his involvement in a fatal road accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway as a rude shock, saying the incident left relatives and the Sagamu community deeply shaken.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday at the family house in Ijokun, Sagamu, Ogun State, Joshua’s uncle, Mr Adedamola Joshua, said the family did not immediately receive information about the accident until calls began pouring in from concerned Nigerians seeking confirmation.
According to him, the news of the crash, which claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close associates, sent shockwaves through Sagamu, where Joshua is widely regarded as a source of pride and inspiration.
“We did not hear about the accident on time. It was when people started calling us repeatedly that we realised something terrible had happened. The news came as a rude shock to the entire family and the Sagamu community,” he said.
Mr Joshua explained that although family members had yet to see the boxer, who is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility in Lagos, they had been in constant contact with his parents, who are also in Nigeria and have assured them that Joshua is stable and responding to treatment.
He expressed gratitude to God for sparing the life of the boxer and the driver of the vehicle, while mourning the death of two close friends and trainers who did not survive the crash.
“Our hearts are heavy over the loss of two young men who were very close to Joshua. We pray that Almighty God will comfort their families and grant them the strength to bear this painful loss,” he added.
The tragic incident also drew condolences from prominent figures and groups. The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, described the crash as a painful and sobering tragedy that has cast a shadow over the festive season.
In a statement by his media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, Adebutu noted that Joshua remains a symbol of courage, discipline and national pride, whose achievements continue to inspire millions of Nigerians at home and abroad.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Anthony Joshua, the bereaved families and all those affected by this unfortunate incident. May God grant the departed eternal rest and give Joshua strength and healing during this difficult period,” Adebutu said.
Similarly, the Sagamu Youth Association expressed profound sadness over the accident, which claimed two lives. In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Olakunle Popoola, the group commiserated with Joshua and the families of the deceased, while wishing the boxer a speedy recovery.
The association also commended the Ogun and Lagos State governments, as well as emergency agencies, for their swift response to the incident.
Anthony Joshua was involved in the crash on Monday morning when the Lexus SUV conveying him collided with a stationary truck along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. Two foreign nationals identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu, a Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina, a British citizen, both aged 36, were confirmed dead.
Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, described the deceased as close friends and team members of the boxing icon, as tributes continue to pour in for the victims.
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