A family member of Nigerian-British boxing champion Anthony Joshua has alleged that the boxer’s phone was stolen by bystanders at the scene of the fatal road accident that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

Speaking with PUNCH, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, described the shock and trauma the family has endured since the incident, while also condemning poor emergency response and public behaviour at accident scenes in Nigeria.

According to him, the family did not learn about the accident through social media but received the information later via a phone call.

“Some of us are not really active on social media. It was around 1pm when a church member, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, called to inform me. At first, it sounded impossible. How can Anthony Joshua be involved in an accident? But unfortunately, it was true,” he said.

Adedamola Joshua explained that the incident was especially devastating because the boxer had only arrived in Nigeria about six hours earlier and was travelling to Sagamu to spend time with his family.

“He was eager to see his people. This was not his first visit home, so why now? Why did this have to happen?” he lamented.

He added that Joshua deliberately chose to spend time with family instead of meeting political leaders or influential figures.

“He could have gone to see governors or other dignitaries, but he chose family. That makes the incident even more painful,” he said.

The uncle clarified that the boxer’s visits to Nigeria during the festive period were customary and not tied to any special event, noting that the family’s annual gathering had been discontinued following the death of a senior relative.

Commenting on emergency response, Adedamola Joshua criticised what he described as a weak and uncoordinated system.

“To see Anthony Joshua crossing the median after the accident instead of being placed on a stretcher was very disturbing,” he said, adding that in more developed countries, air evacuation would have arrived within minutes.

He also condemned the circulation of graphic images from the scene and called for better emergency preparedness along major highways.

“It is not enough to deploy officials to check vehicle papers. Ambulances should also be stationed along accident-prone roads,” he stressed.

Reacting to reports that bystanders recorded videos instead of helping, he criticised such conduct and alleged theft at the scene.

“Some people were busy making videos when they should have been helping. Worse still, items were stolen. Anthony Joshua’s phone was reportedly taken during the chaos,” he said.

Despite his criticism, Adedamola Joshua acknowledged the efforts of government authorities following the incident.

“The Ogun and Lagos State governments ensured he received proper medical care, and President Bola Tinubu personally reached out to him and his parents,” he disclosed.

Reflecting on the tragedy, he said the family’s festive celebrations were completely overshadowed by grief.

“How do you celebrate when your son is in the hospital and two of his friends are being taken home in body bags?” he asked.

While expressing gratitude for Joshua’s recovery and discharge from hospital, he said the family remained deeply saddened by the loss of his friends and offered condolences to their families.