NDLEA Commander Ogboona Muris Found Dead in Hotel
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of its Cross River State Commander, Ogboona Muris, who was found lifeless in a Calabar hotel room on Thursday morning.
According to preliminary reports, Muris had checked into the hotel on Wednesday evening after returning from official engagements.
He was expected to attend a security meeting the following day but failed to appear. Concerned colleagues and hotel staff raised an alarm, leading to the discovery of his body inside the room.
Hotel management immediately alerted the police, and detectives from the Cross River State Command sealed off the scene for investigations.
His remains were later evacuated to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.
While the exact cause of death has not been established, early police findings revealed no signs of violence in the hotel room.
Authorities are exploring all possibilities, including health complications, poisoning, or foul play. A medical autopsy is expected to provide further clarity in the coming days.
Confirming the development, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), described Muris’ death as a “devastating blow” to the agency and the country’s anti-drug war.
“Commander Ogboona Muris was one of our finest officers, dedicated to the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
His sudden passing is a great loss not only to the NDLEA family but to Nigeria. We have lost a patriot who gave his all to safeguarding the future of our youth,” Marwa said in a statement issued from Abuja.
He further assured that the agency was cooperating fully with law enforcement to uncover the circumstances surrounding Muris’ death, while also calling for calm and prayers for his family.
Muris was widely respected for his service in drug enforcement. Since his posting to Cross River, he had spearheaded several high-profile raids, intercepting large consignments of cannabis, cocaine, and other narcotics trafficked through the state’s porous border routes.
His colleagues described him as a disciplined officer and a mentor to many younger operatives. “He was passionate about the fight against drugs and always urged us to work with integrity,” one officer told Global Mirror News.
News of his passing has stirred shock across Cross River State. Civil society groups and community leaders have urged investigators to ensure transparency and rule out speculation.
“This is a very disturbing incident. The NDLEA has been a critical player in keeping communities safe from drug abuse, and losing its commander under unclear circumstances must be thoroughly probed,” said Bassey Eyo, a human rights advocate in Calabar.
NDLEA headquarters has directed all state commands to observe a minute’s silence in honor of the late commander.
Flags at NDLEA offices in Cross River have been lowered to half-mast.
The results of the autopsy are expected to guide further investigations as security agencies continue to piece together the last moments of Muris’ life.
For now, the Agency, his family, and the people of Cross River are left grappling with the sudden loss of a man many saw as a frontline warrior in Nigeria’s fight against narcotics.
