Anthony Joshua is grieving after a horrific road accident in Nigeria killed two of his close friends, as authorities move to shut down a wave of online conspiracy theories claiming the deaths were an assassination.
The heavyweight boxing star was seriously injured in the crash that claimed the lives of Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, an incident now under active police investigation.
The collision occurred shortly after 11:00 on December 29 on the Lagos Ibadan expressway near Makun.
Joshua and his entourage were traveling in a Lexus SUV when the vehicle struck a stationary truck parked on the hard shoulder of the highway.
Ayodele and Ghani died at the scene while Joshua survived with significant injuries and was taken for medical treatment.
Graphic footage from the crash site began circulating online within hours, showing the devastating injuries suffered by at least one victim.
According to RadarOnline, those images quickly sparked unfounded claims on social media that the men had been pulled from the vehicle and killed deliberately.
Others went further, insisting they had analyzed the videos and alleging the victims were decapitated by gang members.
Police have rejected those claims outright, stressing there is no evidence to support them and warning against spreading speculation while the investigation continues.
Police detail illegal parking and speeding in fatal crash
While online theories gained traction, Nigerian authorities outlined a very different picture.
Police confirmed the truck involved in the crash had been illegally parked on the side of the highway and that its driver was not present at the time of impact.
That driver, described as a man in his 30s, has since disappeared, prompting a manhunt.
“He was parked on the side of the highway which is illegal, he had not broken down and he was not with the vehicle when the accident happened,” police said.
Investigators are also examining the actions of the driver of the Lexus carrying Joshua and his friends.
Officers estimate the SUV was traveling at more than 100 kilometers per hour when it hit the truck. As a result, the driver could face prosecution for reckless driving depending on the findings of the inquiry.
Police believe the combination of excessive speed and an illegally parked vehicle created a fatal scenario on one of the country’s busiest roads.
They have emphasized that nothing uncovered so far points to foul play beyond traffic related offenses.
The disappearance of the truck driver has added tension to the case, but authorities say fleeing the scene does not indicate a planned attack.
Instead, it remains a separate criminal matter under investigation.
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