Ogun breaks silence after Anthony Joshua crash claims two lives

By Adejoke Adeleye

The Ogun State Government has formally broken its silence on the fatal road accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, which claimed the lives of two people along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

In an official statement issued on Monday, the Ogun State Government confirmed that the crash occurred within the Makun axis of the expressway while Joshua and three other occupants were travelling from Lagos to Sagamu.

The government described the incident as tragic and deeply painful, noting that two male foreign nationals lost their lives on the spot.

According to preliminary findings, the sport utility vehicle conveying the boxing star rammed into a stationary truck on the busy highway.

The deceased victims were immediately evacuated to the Livewell Morgue in Sagamu, while Joshua and the vehicle’s driver were rescued by security operatives attached to his convoy and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Authorities disclosed that the badly damaged vehicle has since been moved to the Sagamu Motor Traffic Division office, while arrangements are underway to tow the truck involved to the same location to aid a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, the state government said the loss of lives was devastating and unacceptable, even as it acknowledged that others involved in the accident sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

The government used the occasion to caution motorists to exercise heightened care and strict adherence to traffic regulations, particularly during the festive season when traffic volume is typically high.

It also urged road safety officers and other security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement across major highways in the state.

Signed by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government prayed for the repose of the departed souls and speedy recovery for the injured, while asking God to grant the bereaved families the strength to bear the irreparable loss.