Pictures and videos circulating online and also shared by local state authorities showed a shirtless Joshua – a British national of Nigerian heritage – grimacing in pain as he was helped step out of the car.

Others showed a mangled wreckage of a black sports utility vehicle.

His promoter Matchroom said the boxer’s “close friends and team members” Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed and Joshua himself was taken to hospital “for checks and treatment”.

Nigerian police said the two victims died “at the scene”.

Joshua’s family hails from the southwest Nigerian city and he is known to visit there when he is in the country.