Bystanders Stole Anthony Joshua’s Phone at Accident Scene — Uncle

An uncle of former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has said that bystanders at the scene of the recent road accident involving the boxer stole his mobile phone, even as two of Joshua’s friends died in the crash.

Adedamola Joshua, speaking in an interview, said the family was thrown into shock after learning of the accident, which occurred just hours after the boxer arrived in Nigeria for the festive season.

“We did not hear about it early because some of us are not active on social media,” he said. “I got a call around 1 p.m. from a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police who attends my church. At first, it sounded impossible. I kept asking myself, ‘How can Anthony Joshua be involved in an accident?’ But unfortunately, it happened.”

According to him, Joshua had arrived in the country about six hours earlier and was travelling to Sagamu to reunite with his family when the crash occurred.

“He was very eager to see his people,” Adedamola Joshua said. “He could have chosen to stay back with governors or other influential people, but he insisted on going home to his family. That is what makes this incident even more painful.”

He said Joshua’s visit to Nigeria was not unusual, noting that the boxer regularly returns home during the Yuletide period to spend time with relatives. He also dismissed reports of an annual extended family gathering, saying it had been discontinued years ago.

“The family gathering stopped after our elder brother who coordinated it passed away,” he explained. “When Joshua comes home, he visits people like the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and others.”

On the handling of the accident, Adedamola Joshua criticised what he described as a weak emergency response, saying the boxer should not have been left to walk unaided after the crash.

“It was disturbing to see him crossing the road after such a serious accident,” he said. “He should have been placed on a stretcher and taken straight to an ambulance. In other countries, a helicopter would have arrived within minutes.”

He also condemned the conduct of some members of the public at the scene.

“Instead of helping, some people were making videos and stealing from the victims,” he said. “We even heard that Anthony Joshua’s phone was stolen. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable.”

He called on security agencies to respond faster to accidents and properly secure crash scenes to prevent looting and crowding.

The boxer’s uncle further urged the government to strengthen emergency services on major highways, particularly along accident-prone routes.

“Accidents happen frequently on that road,” he said. “It is not enough to have road safety officials checking documents. There should also be ambulances stationed there.”

Despite his criticism, Adedamola Joshua acknowledged the support provided by government officials following the incident.

“The government has done its best,” he said. “Governors Dapo Abiodun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu ensured that he received good medical care. President Bola Tinubu also reached out to Anthony Joshua and his parents and assured them of full support.”

He suggested that prominent Nigerians like Joshua should be provided with professional drivers and security escorts whenever they are in the country.

“For someone of his status, expert drivers should be assigned to reduce risk,” he said.

On the family’s state of mind, he said the tragedy had overshadowed the festive season.

“How can there be celebration when your son is in the hospital and two of his friends are being taken out of the country in body bags?” he said. “It has shaken the entire family.”

Adedamola Joshua said the family felt some relief after Joshua was discharged from hospital but described the loss of his friends as deeply traumatic.

“We thank God that he survived,” he said. “But it would have been complete joy if his friends had also lived. Their deaths are a heavy burden on us.”

He added that while there has been speculation about the incident affecting Joshua’s boxing career or future visits to Nigeria, the family is focused on recovery and mourning.

“We pray that God gives him the strength to overcome this,” he said. “On behalf of the Joshua family at home and in the diaspora, we extend our condolences to the families of the friends we lost in this tragic accident.”