The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports that renowned writer and academic, Okey Ndibe, was arrested or detained at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The secret police said the encounter with the professor was part of a routine security review aimed at removing individuals from its watchlist and not an arrest as widely reported.
In a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the DSS insisted that Ndibe was only invited for a brief interaction as part of an ongoing exercise to review old watchlist records.
According to the agency, the current Director-General had ordered a comprehensive review of watchlist actions, some dating back to the military era, to prevent innocent citizens from being embarrassed by outdated security alerts.
The DSS revealed that Ndibe had been on its watchlist since January 29, 2013, but that his status had already been reviewed and downgraded.
The agency explained that the airport interaction was a final step towards removing his name completely from the watchlist.
“Prof. Ndibe was neither arrested nor detained. After less than an hour of interaction with our officials, he was cleared and escorted,” the statement said.
The Service added that the author himself acknowledged the professionalism and courtesy of its operatives during the encounter.
The DSS also disclosed that several Nigerians, including journalists and public figures, have benefited from the ongoing review process. It cited the removal of media practitioner Lanre Arogundade from the watchlist in 2025 after more than a decade.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the rule of law and human rights, urging individuals who believe they may still be on the watchlist to contact its headquarters for review.
Reports of Ndibe’s alleged arrest had sparked concern among civil society groups and media stakeholders before the DSS issued its clarification.
