‎The Cross River State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Chief Narcotics Officer Ogbonna Uzoma has suddenly passed away as the entire agency mourn.

‎The NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy at the Headquarters in Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Friday, said the late commander, who assumed duty on August 18, 2025, was discovered lifeless in his hotel room in Calabar on Thursday after failing to show up for scheduled engagements.

‎Babafemi said, “CN Ogbonna had been up and doing at his new Command and was billed to lead his officers on some scheduled engagements at 10am on Thursday 18th September 2025. But when his officers didn’t hear from him by 9am, they went to his hotel room in company of the hotel staff while several knocks at his door and calls to his telephone line went unanswered.

‎“Attempts by the hotel staff to open or force the door open from outside failed, after which one of the attendants had to go through the ceiling aperture to enter the room and open the door from inside, where they found the Commander’s lifeless body.”

‎According to him, “The Police Command in the state was promptly informed, after which the Commissioner of Police personally visited the scene, while the police continue with investigation of the cause of death.

‎”The Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), has since directed the Zonal Commander, Zone 14, ACGN Mathew Ewah to move to Cross River to assist police investigation.”

‎While the cause of the commander’s death is not yet known, the agency has expressed sympathy to the family and reassured its commitment to a full investigation.

‎ “The Agency stands with the family in this trying moment, and we pray that God will comfort them and grant the departed eternal rest,” Marwa said.