Residents of Sagamu have urged former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua not to allow the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of two of his friends to stop him from returning home to Nigeria, specifically to his hometown in Ogun State.
Joshua survived the tragic accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29, 2025, but his close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, were killed instantly when their Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck. The incident occurred just as the British-Nigerian boxer was concluding a holiday visit to Nigeria following his sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
Following the tragedy, concerns have emerged among Nigerians that the boxer might be reluctant to return to the country. However, prominent voices from his ancestral community in Sagamu have called on him to overcome any fears and continue visiting his roots.
Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, addressed concerns about the boxer’s relationship with Nigeria following the tragedy. “There are a lot of things we have heard, but this is a Christian family, and everything we take with faith,” he said. “Once something like that happens, emotionally, you can say anything, but as time goes on, you know this is always his root.”
One of the indigenes, Adeniji Taiwo, told Journalist, “I believe the fear will be there for him not to come back home, but I will advise him to come back home because he can’t leave his father’s place. This is his home.”
Taiwo, who also works on the Oba of Sagamu’s security team, added, “We feel bad that happened to our son, who was already almost home when he had the accident, but we thank God, and we pray nothing like that will happen to him again. There is nothing that can’t happen anywhere. This could have happened elsewhere, but God will continue to be with him, and all of us; no one in Remo wishes him evil, he is our glory.”
A commercial motorcyclist who gave his first name as Mr Taiwo and assisted our correspondent during the visit to the palace, where discussions were held with the Oba’s security, also urged Joshua to keep coming home. “This accident should not stop him from coming back to Sagamu. His coming here motivates so many of our youths, and it will be a big miss if he doesn’t come,” Mr Taiwo said. “Yes, it was a terrible thing that happened, but he must overcome that fear. We are praying for him, and we want to see him back home soon.”
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A woman named Mrs Florence Kehinde, who made the trip from Lagos to Sagamu on the bus with our correspondent, expressed similar sentiments. “Anthony Joshua is our son, and we love him dearly. That accident was very painful, but he should not let it keep him away from us. A lot is being said, but no one wishes him evil,” Mrs Kehinde said. “We need him to come back and show that he is strong. His presence here gives us joy and pride. He is the glory of Sagamu, and we will support him and protect him.”
Segun Adebiyi, who directed our correspondent to Joshua’s family house in Sagamu, also called on the boxer to maintain his connection with Nigeria. “I know the accident must have shaken him, but we are all praying for him. He should not be afraid to come back. Accidents can happen anywhere in the world, not just in Nigeria. This is his home, and we will always welcome him with open arms. He needs to overcome that fear and keep coming back to visit his family and his people,” Adebiyi said.
Last Friday, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that Adeniyi Kayode, who was driving the car with Joshua as a passenger, had been charged over the crash at the Sagamu Magistrate Court. He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. The case has been adjourned until January 20.
The December 29 accident has reignited conversations about road safety along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a critical arterial route that has witnessed numerous fatal crashes over the years. The highway, which serves as a major economic corridor linking Nigeria’s commercial capital with the southwestern interior, has long been notorious for accidents involving heavy-duty trucks, speeding vehicles, and poor road maintenance. Road safety advocates have repeatedly called on authorities to enforce stricter traffic regulations and implement better road infrastructure to reduce fatalities.
For Sagamu residents, however, the primary concern remains their connection to Joshua, whom they regard as a source of pride and inspiration. The boxer, born in Watford to Nigerian parents, has maintained strong ties to his paternal roots despite his upbringing in the United Kingdom. Over the years, his visits to Nigeria have generated significant excitement, particularly among young people who view him as a symbol of excellence and possibility.
The outpouring of support from Sagamu reflects the deep emotional and cultural bonds that Nigerian communities maintain with their diaspora members who achieve international recognition. Joshua’s success in the boxing ring has been embraced as a shared achievement, and his presence in Nigeria is seen as an affirmation of identity and heritage.
