The Department of State Services (DSS) has refuted claims that it arrested or detained Nigerian writer and academic, Okey Ndibe, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 1, 2026.
In a clarification released on Tuesday, the agency’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, stated that its encounter with Ndibe was not an arrest but part of a routine security review process linked to the management of its watchlist.
The DSS firmly denied the reports, stressing that no detention or arrest took place at the airport or elsewhere on the said date.
According to the agency, the current Director-General had ordered a comprehensive review of existing watchlist records upon assumption of office. It explained that many of such records date back to the military era and are being reassessed to prevent unnecessary embarrassment to citizens.
The Service noted that individuals previously placed on its watchlist are often invited for brief interactions as part of a standard procedure aimed at determining whether they still meet the criteria for such security alerts. This process, it added, can lead to either a downgrade or full removal from the list in line with international security standards.
The DSS further explained that this review mechanism helps it reassess the relevance of earlier watchlist decisions by examining the current activities, travel patterns, and engagements of affected persons.
It disclosed that Ndibe had been placed on the watchlist since January 29, 2013, but his case had already been reviewed and downgraded before the airport encounter. The agency said the interaction was therefore part of the final stage leading to his removal from the list.
Ndibe, according to the statement, spent less than an hour with DSS officials and was subsequently cleared and escorted after the review process.
The Service also referenced a social media post attributed to the writer, noting that he acknowledged the professional and courteous conduct of its operatives during the encounter.
It added that several other Nigerians, including journalists and activists, have benefited from the ongoing review exercise, citing the removal of International Press Centre Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, from the watchlist in May 2025 after years of inclusion.
Reiterating its position, the DSS said the exercise is aimed at ensuring fairness and compliance with the law, and encouraged anyone who believes they are affected by watchlist placement to formally approach its headquarters for review.
Meanwhile, earlier reports had claimed that Ndibe was arrested and detained upon his arrival in Lagos, a development that triggered reactions from civil society groups and media stakeholders before the DSS issued its clarification.