The Ogun State Government has confirmed that two people who lost their lives in the road accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, were foreign nationals.
The accident occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, around the Makun axis, just before the Sagamu Interchange. According to eyewitness accounts, the Lexus SUV conveying Joshua collided with a stationary truck near a filling station on the Ibadan-bound lane.
A PUNCH reporter who visited the scene said the vehicle, bearing registration number KRD 850 HN, rammed into the truck under circumstances that are now under investigation by traffic authorities.
In an official statement, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, confirmed the fatalities and expressed the government’s condolences to the families of the deceased.
“The unfortunate incident occurred along the busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway within Makun area of Ogun State and sadly resulted in the death of two persons,” the statement read.
According to the government, Anthony Joshua was travelling with three other individuals from Lagos to Sagamu at the time of the crash. Preliminary findings revealed that the two victims who died instantly were male foreign nationals.
Their bodies have since been deposited at the Livewell Morgue in Sagamu, while the injured occupants, including Joshua and the driver of the vehicle, were rescued by security operatives attached to his convoy and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
The state government disclosed that the severely damaged SUV has been evacuated to the Sagamu Motor Traffic Division office, while arrangements are being made to tow the truck involved in the accident for a full-scale investigation.
Describing the incident as tragic and deeply painful, the government noted that other occupants sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
The Ogun State Government also used the opportunity to caution motorists, urging them to drive responsibly and obey traffic rules, especially during the festive season when vehicular movement is usually high.
It further called on road safety and security agencies to strengthen monitoring and enforcement on major highways across the state to prevent similar occurrences.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. We pray for the peaceful repose of the deceased and speedy recovery for those injured,” the statement added.
