The Cross River State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Morrison Ogbonna, has been found dead in his hotel room in Calabar.
Ogbonna was discovered lifeless in the early hours of Thursday, September 18, 2025, when his officers arrived at the hotel to pick him up for an official assignment. After knocking repeatedly without getting a response, they alerted hotel management, who forced the door open and found him unresponsive.
The late commander had only recently been deployed to Cross River State in August 2025, replacing Rachel Umebuali.
The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the incident. Police spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo-Obase, said:
“I can confirm it is true, but what led to the death is what I can’t readily tell you.”
As of now, the cause of death has not been determined, and authorities have not disclosed whether an autopsy or further investigation has been ordered. The exact hotel where he was found has also not been publicly named.
The NDLEA has yet to issue an official statement on the development, and no comments have been released by Ogbonna’s family.
Ogbonna’s sudden death has sparked shock within the security community, given his recent assumption of duty in the state. Further updates are expected once official investigations are concluded.
