There has been widespread criticism following the brief detention and questioning of US-based Nigerian writer and columnist, Professor Okey Ndibe, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Ndibe was reportedly intercepted on Sunday shortly after his arrival in Nigeria and held for several hours before being released.
According to accounts, DSS operatives informed the writer that his name appeared on a security watch-list, which necessitated his questioning at the airport. He was also advised to travel to Abuja to resolve the listing and prevent future travel disruptions.
Ndibe, however, rejected the proposal, expressing anger over what he described as repeated targeting of critics of government and corruption.
“I told the SSS that it’s a shame a country that rolls out the red carpet for criminals would harass a writer who wages war on corruption and the corrupt,” he said.
The incident has revived memories of previous encounters between Ndibe and Nigerian security agencies. In 2011, he was detained at the same airport by DSS operatives, who also confiscated his Nigerian and US passports for two days. On another occasion, his travel documents were similarly seized before being released after public pressure.
Ndibe, who has been based in the United States since 1998, is known for his outspoken commentary on governance, democracy, and accountability in Nigeria.
The latest development has drawn condemnation from public figures and human rights advocates.
Former Anambra State Commissioner for Information, C. Don Adinuba, criticised the DSS for what he described as a recurring administrative failure to properly update its records.
He said Ndibe has been repeatedly cleared in previous incidents after intervention from DSS headquarters in Abuja, only to face similar treatment again at the airport.
“It is unfortunate that this situation keeps repeating itself. Each time, he is released after Abuja steps in and apologies are offered,” Adinuba said.
He added that Ndibe has largely focused on academic work and writing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in recent years.
Human rights lawyer Abdul Mahmoud also condemned the detention, describing it as unjustifiable and troubling.
“The arrest of Professor Okey Ndibe is unnecessary and reflects a broader pattern of overreach by security agencies,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS had yet to issue an official explanation for the detention.
The incident has renewed debate over Nigeria’s security watch-list system and its impact on freedom of movement for government critics and public intellectuals.
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