*Marwa commiserates with family, orders probe into circumstances
By Odita Sunday
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of its Cross River State Commander, CN Ogbonna Maurice Uzoma.
News of his passing reached the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), in Maiduguri, Borno State, where he was attending a retreat for heads of agencies organized by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Ogbonna, who resumed duty in Calabar on 18th August 2025 after his recent posting, had settled temporarily in a hotel while searching for a permanent accommodation. According to official accounts, he was expected to lead his officers on scheduled engagements by 10am on Thursday, 18th September, but failed to respond to calls or knocks at his hotel door earlier that morning.
Attempts to force the door open failed until a hotel attendant accessed the room through the ceiling aperture, only to discover the Commander’s lifeless body. The Cross River Police Commissioner later visited the scene, with investigations now underway to establish the cause of death.
To ensure full cooperation with police authorities, Marwa has directed the Zonal Commander, Zone 14, ACGN Mathew Ewah, to immediately relocate to Calabar.
In a condolence message, the NDLEA boss described Ogbonna as a dedicated officer whose sudden death is a great loss to the Agency. “The NDLEA stands with the family in this trying moment. We pray God comforts them and grants the departed eternal rest,” Marwa said.