DSS says Okey Ndibe was not arrested, attributes airport encounter to watch list review

The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed reports that author and academic Okey Ndibe was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, stating that its engagement with him was connected to an ongoing review of longstanding watch-list records.

The agency’s response followed public reactions to a social media post by Ndibe, who said he was detained by DSS operatives at the airport while travelling.

In a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the DSS said the interaction was part of administrative procedures aimed at reviewing and removing outdated entries from its watch-list database.
According to the agency, Ndibe’s name had been on a watch list since January 29, 2013. It explained that his file had recently been reassessed and downgraded under a broader initiative to review historical Watch-List Actions inherited over the years.

The DSS said the exercise was introduced by its Director-General to prevent Nigerians from being subjected to unnecessary inconvenience as a result of obsolete security records.

It added that individuals whose names are undergoing review are often contacted as part of the process leading to the eventual removal of their details from the system.
The agency maintained that its meeting with Ndibe at the airport was intended to conclude the delisting process and not to detain or arrest him.

While the DSS said the interaction lasted less than an hour before he was cleared to proceed, Ndibe offered a different account.
In a Facebook post, the writer said he spent more than three hours with security officials but noted that the officers who attended to him were professional throughout the encounter.

“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-plus hours of my detention. I’d like to confirm that I’ve been released.”

Ndibe also thanked friends and supporters who reached out after learning about the incident and said he remained in good health and good spirits.

Although both sides differed on the duration and characterization of the encounter, they agreed that the operatives involved acted courteously.

The DSS said the ongoing review of watch-list records had already benefited a number of Nigerians. It cited the removal of journalist Lanre Arogundade’s name from its watch list in May 2025 after more than a decade.

The agency urged individuals who believe they may still be affected by outdated watch-list actions to contact its headquarters for clarification and possible review.

It reiterated its commitment to ensuring that security procedures are implemented in a manner consistent with legal provisions and the rights of citizens.