The Department of State Services (DSS) has said that writer and academic Okey Ndibe was neither arrested nor detained at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, insisting that its interaction with him formed part of an ongoing review of longstanding watch-list records.
The clarification came after Ndibe disclosed on social media that he was held by DSS operatives at the airport, triggering widespread reactions from associates, colleagues and supporters.
Responding to the reports, the agency, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, explained that Ndibe had been on a security watch list since January 2013.
According to the DSS, the record was recently reassessed and downgraded under a broader exercise aimed at reviewing and updating old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some of which have remained in existence for years.
The agency said the review was initiated by its Director-General to address cases where outdated security alerts may continue to affect citizens despite changes in circumstances.
It explained that individuals whose records are being reviewed are routinely invited for interaction as part of the process leading to the modification or removal of their names from the watch list.
The DSS stated that its engagement with Ndibe at the airport was intended to facilitate the final removal of his details from the list.
While maintaining that the interaction lasted less than one hour and ended with Ndibe being cleared to continue his journey, the agency acknowledged public interest in the matter following the author's account of the incident.
In a Facebook post, Ndibe described the encounter as a detention that lasted more than three hours. He, however, noted that the officers who handled the matter were courteous throughout.
“I am so grateful for the expressions of concern by many friends, acquaintances and others over my detention earlier today by the DSS at Murtala Muhammed International Airport,” he wrote.
“The two agents who interacted with me were quite courteous throughout the three+ hours of my detention. I’d like to confirm that I’ve been released.”
Ndibe also expressed appreciation to those who contacted him after news of the incident emerged and assured them that he was in good health.
Although the DSS and Ndibe differed on the duration and nature of the encounter, both acknowledged that the officials involved conducted themselves professionally.
The agency noted that the ongoing watch-list review has led to the removal of several names from its records. It cited the case of Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), whose name was delisted in May 2025 after remaining on the watch list for more than a decade.
The DSS said the review process would continue as part of efforts to ensure that outdated records do not unnecessarily affect law-abiding citizens.
It also encouraged individuals who believe they may be affected by existing watch-list actions to contact the agency's headquarters for possible review and clarification.
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