AKH-TRACADA wants death of NDLEA Cross River Commander, Uzoma probed

Anti – kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drugs Abuse Initiative (AKH – TRACADA) has called on the Nigerian authorities to probe the sudden death of the Cross River State Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ogbonna Uzoma who was found dead in his hotel room in Calabar, on Thursday, when his officers had come to pick him up for a scheduled assignment.

In a press statement released in Abuja Sunday, AKH-TRACADA National Coordinator, Primate Belonwu Ezeanyaeche while describing the death as a tragedy called for probe to ascertain the real cause of his sudden death.

Ezeanyaeche wanted the Nigerian authorities to order a probe into the incident of late Uzoma, who resumed in Cross River on 18 August and lodged in a hotel while seeking for suitable accommodation.

It was reported that the deceased was scheduled to lead his officers for engagements at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 18 September, but could not be reached earlier that morning.

This warranted officers, in the company of hotel staff to attempt to contact him before a hotel attendant gained access to his room through the ceiling and discovered Uzoma was lifeless inside.

Recall that on December 2024, AKH-TARACDA embarked on a Seven-Day fact-finding mission of some areas in Calabar notorious for drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking activities acting on information it gathered from some individuals.

This was done to get firsthand information on the illicit drug activities, with the aim of creating awareness, promoting advocacy, sensitizing the general public and more importantly to share credible intelligence with relevant security operatives.

It is important to know that the fact-finding mission became imperative owing to Calabar Carnival Festival that attracts people from all works of life who may be prone to all these acts.

The findings revealed that Cross River State has high rate of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking coordinated by very powerful cartels of drug lords which needs a well harmonized operation to curtail and contain. There are over 100 Flashpoints that serve as drug haven for the offenders.

However, most of the findings have already been shared with relevant security agencies and may not be right to be published owing to its sensitive nature to people’s collective security.

We also appeal that government and NDLEA should ensure that the deceased family be carted for reasonably to serve as morale booster to other officers and men of the agency to enable them put in their best in prosecuting the anti-drug war.