ABUJA, Nigeria: Two people were killed in a car accident in Nigeria's Ogun State on December 29 that also injured British former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.

Promoter Matchroom Boxing quoted Ogun State Police Command as saying that Joshua, 36, sustained minor injuries when the vehicle he was in collided with another car. The cause of the accident was being investigated.

Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps said five men had been involved in the accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Joshua suffered minor injuries, two people lost their lives, and two walked away unhurt, the FRSC said.

"With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, have tragically passed away," Matchroom Boxing stated.

Joshua had been taken to a hospital for a checkup and treatment. He was reported to be stable but would remain under observation, it added.

President Bola Tinubu expressed sympathy to Joshua and the families of the victims, calling the incident a "tragic accident."

The FRSC was quoted on X as saying that the primary causes of the crash were excessive speed and wrongful overtaking. These constitute serious traffic violations and are among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways.

Officials have not identified who was driving the car in which Joshua was travelling, and he could not be reached for immediate comment.

Joshua, who was born in Britain to British-Nigerian parents, attended boarding school in Ikenne, Nigeria, before returning to the UK at the age of 12.

The crash happened just over a week after he defeated American social media personality Jake Paul with a sixth-round knockout in Miami.

In a tribute on social media platform X, Paul said he was "praying for the lost lives, AJ, and everyone affected by today's unfortunate accident."

The bout marked Joshua's return to the ring after a 15-month break. He is expected to face long-time rival and fellow Briton Tyson Fury in 2026.