A young Nigerian man has provided a chilling, first-hand account of the tragic accident involving world-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua, which resulted in the deaths of two of his close associates.
Eyewitness Account of the Fatal Collision
The individual, who identified himself as Adekunle Raphael, narrated the sequence of events that led to the devastating crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29. The accident claimed the lives of Joshua's fitness trainer, Latif Ayodele, and his coach, Sina Ghami, while the heavyweight champion himself was rushed to the hospital.
In a viral YouTube video, Raphael placed the blame squarely on the actions of Anthony Joshua's driver. According to his testimony, the driver's primary mistake was attempting a dangerous overtaking maneuver to catch up with the other vehicles in the boxer's convoy.
"He Was Trying to Meet Up With the Escort"
"Anthony Joshua's car was trying to overtake wrongly, that's why it came through this service lane," Raphael stated. He described how the vehicle collided with a stationary truck that was properly parked on the lane.
"The driver was trying to meet up with the escort. That was the scenario that led to the accident. He was trying to overtake that car to meet up with the escort. That’s how the accident happened," he explained vividly. Raphael emphasized the severity of the impact, noting that the collision was so powerful it "divided Anthony Joshua's car into two."
Public Reaction and Calls for Safety
The eyewitness account has sparked significant reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing grief and debating road safety measures.
One user, @OMAR-gd7mj, commented philosophically: "If your time is up, you can't do nothing about it... May Allah have mercy on their soul." Another, @QueenstarReality, pondered the boxer's state of mind after the crash, suggesting he was likely in shock.
A particularly poignant reaction came from @OlalekanObadeyi, who advocated for stricter safety protocols: "These transportation/convoy businesses should have mandatory dash cams operating at all times during a journey. Devices as such would certainly be very helpful in cases like this and can help provide overall safety."
This tragic incident on one of Nigeria's busiest highways has reignited crucial conversations about responsible driving, the pressures on convoy drivers, and the urgent need for improved road safety infrastructure to prevent future losses.
