The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to rapid emergency response and road safety enforcement following a fatal crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State involving world-renowned boxer, Anthony Joshua, and his team, according to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).

The Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO) of the FRSC RS2 Lagos Zone, Assistant Corps Marshal, ACM Ann O. Oladayo, on Tuesday conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the accident scene, following widespread public interest and conflicting reports surrounding the incident that occurred the previous day.

Speaking with the press during the assessment, ACM Oladayo said the inspection was necessary to establish the true facts, noting that some FRSC operatives were already present at the corridor when the crash occurred. “A lot of reports are out there, but we decided to come for an eyewitness account because some of our operatives were here when it happened. We needed to ascertain what actually occurred,” she said.

According to the FRSC, preliminary findings from eyewitnesses revealed that a trailer carrying soya beans was properly parked off the road, waiting to be offloaded, when a speeding vehicle carrying the popular international boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, and his friends ran into it. “From what we gathered, the truck was not on the road. It was waiting to be offloaded and was well off the carriageway when the vehicle ran into it,” Oladayo explained.

She dismissed claims that the FRSC failed to respond promptly, stressing that the Corps arrived at the scene within minutes. “Immediately we heard of the incident, we were here in under three minutes. Our priority was rescue. Unfortunately, we lost two lives, but the injured were rescued and taken for medical attention,” she said.

The Zonal Commander added that suspected over-speeding and possible wrongful overtaking were being investigated as likely causes of the crash, noting that the impact force which pulled out the trailer’s tyres suggested excessive speed. “On this highway, the speed limit is 100 km/h. From the impact, it is likely that the vehicle exceeded that limit. Investigation is still ongoing,” she stated.

An eyewitness, Yusuf Ajala Oluwaseun, who was at the scene when the crash occurred, blamed persistent speeding along the highway. “We just heard a loud boom. At first, we thought it was a tyre burst. People overspeed a lot on this road. Just last week, an 18-seater bus speeding here hit a man and overturned. FRSC came and rescued the victims,” he said.

Another eyewitness, Sodiq Ayo, confirmed the swift arrival of emergency responders from the FRSC and described the moments after the crash. “I heard a sound and came out. People were shouting that someone was still inside the Jeep. When we realised it was Anthony Joshua, everyone gathered, many people were recording videos of Anthony Joshua. But before people fully arrived, FRSC came and rescued them,” he recounted.

The FRSC Zonal Commander, Oladayo, noted that the damaged trailer has been moved to their facility using a heavy-duty tow truck, while the SUV involved in the crash is currently in the custody of the Ogun State Police Command, as investigations continue. She used the opportunity to caution motorists to plan their journeys properly, avoid over-speeding and reckless overtaking, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before travelling.

Community Comments:

“Thank You Jesus. Some people are trying to change the narrative. Anthony Joshua survived by a miracle. This accident is a serious reminder about safe driving.”

“Go and have your own accident, let’s see if she will visit you. No worries… just lend me your car as I haven’t bought one yet.”

“The vehicle was over-speeding. Joshua’s team did not take road safety seriously. You need local protocol officers to provide briefings before any movement. Road conditions in Lekki are not the same as on the Shagamu highway. This is bad for AJ internationally.”