Adedamola Joshua, an uncle of Nigerian-British heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, has spoken publicly about the emotional trauma and shock the family is facing following the tragic road accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends.
According to him, the family did not immediately learn about the incident through social media. Instead, the news came hours later through a phone call, a delay that added to the confusion
and emotional distress surrounding the situation.
“It Sounded Impossible”
Adedamola Joshua explained that the news initially felt unreal, noting that the family struggled to comprehend how such an incident could involve the world-renowned boxer.
He said the call came around 1:00 pm from a church member who is a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police.
“Some of us are not really active on social media, so we didn’t hear about it early.
When I got the call, it sounded unbelievable. How could Anthony Joshua be involved in
an accident? It was shocking and very painful,” he said.
Yuletide Visit Was a Family Tradition
He clarified that Joshua’s visit to Nigeria during the festive season was part of a long-standing
family tradition and not tied to any official programme or celebration.
According to him, the boxer arrived in Nigeria only hours before the accident, eager to reunite
with family members in Sagamu.
“This is not his first visit home. He just arrived about six hours earlier and wanted
to be with his family. He could have chosen to meet public figures or attend social events,
but his priority was family. That is what makes this incident even more painful,” he said.
He also noted that Joshua’s father resides mainly in Nigeria, while his mother splits her time between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Concerns Over Emergency Response and Road Safety
Adedamola Joshua strongly criticised the handling of the accident, expressing concern over what he described as weak emergency response systems and poor rescue coordination.
He lamented delays in medical attention and questioned why proper evacuation procedures were not immediately deployed.
“It was distressing to see him crossing the road after the accident when he should have been
placed on a stretcher. In other countries, emergency helicopters would arrive within minutes,”
he said.
He further called for better deployment of ambulances along major highways, stressing that road safety enforcement should go beyond document checks to include rapid medical response.
Condemnation of Bystander Behaviour
The uncle also criticised the behaviour of some bystanders at accident scenes, noting that
instead of offering help, many people record videos or take advantage of victims.
He revealed that amid the confusion, the boxer’s mobile phone was reportedly stolen.
“When people should help, they bring out their phones to record or even steal from victims.
That behaviour is wrong and must change,” he said.
He concluded by urging authorities to strengthen emergency services, improve coordination among first responders, and prioritise road safety measures to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
