How Senior NDLEA Officer Was Shot Dead During Gun Battle With Drug Cartel

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has mourned the death of the late Mujahid and described the ugly incident as unfortunate.

The tragic incident occurred on Friday, 6th February, 2026, when NDLEA operatives raided a notorious drug enclave known as Ama Hausa in Bonny Island.

The operation led to the arrest of six suspected drug traffickers and the recovery of a significant cache of illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, skunk, and tramadol.

According to a statement issued by the  agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the operation turned violent when the suspected gang leader, Genesis George Benson, allegedly mobilized armed hoodlums to resist arrest and attack the NDLEA team.

During the confrontation, Mujahid sustained severe head injuries. He was rushed to the General Hospital in Bonny Island for emergency treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.

Despite the attack, the NDLEA operatives reportedly overpowered the assailants and successfully apprehended all six targets of the operation. Those arrested include Genesis George Benson; ThankGod Okon; Shamsudden Isah; Muhammed Musa; Adamu Muhammed; and Muhammed Yusuf.

The agency described Ama Hausa as a well-known hub for criminal activities and drug trafficking in the area, adding that the raid was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle entrenched drug networks across the country.

Reacting to the incident, Marwa commended the courage and resilience of the officers who carried out the operation, noting that they remained steadfast despite the violent resistance.

“I salute the gallantry of our men who refused to be intimidated by these criminal elements. Even after the cowardly attack on Mujahid, our operatives ensured that the assailants were overpowered and arrested, and their illicit substances confiscated. Their sacrifice will not be in vain,” he said.

The NDLEA boss described the late Mujahid as a disciplined and courageous officer who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. He extended condolences to the deceased’s family, colleagues, and the Rivers State Command of the agency.

“Any attack on our officers is an attack on the state, and it will not go without dire consequences. We remain undeterred in our mission to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs, and we will continue to take the fight to the enclaves of these merchants of death,” Marwa warned.

The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to intensifying operations against drug trafficking networks nationwide, vowing that the death of its officer would further strengthen its resolve to confront criminal elements head-on.