The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied arresting renowned writer and professor Okey Ndibe at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, saying he was only subjected to a routine security interface as part of an ongoing review of old watchlist entries.
The clarification came amid reports that Ndibe was detained by DSS operatives upon his arrival at the MMIA, by operatives of the service on June 1.
Responding to the reports in a statement on Tuesday, the DSS said the professor was neither arrested nor detained, explaining that his engagement with operatives formed part of a process to review and eventually remove his name from a longstanding Watch-List Action (WLA).
According to the Service, Ndibe had been on its watchlist since January 29, 2013, but his case had since been reviewed and downgraded, paving the way for his eventual delisting.
The agency explained that under an ongoing review initiated by the current Director-General, old watchlist records, some dating back to the military era, are being reassessed to ensure that citizens are not unnecessarily subjected to restrictions or embarrassment arising from outdated security classifications.
“In this regard, all those who had previously been watchlisted while on transit, are routinely interfaced with as a prerequisite for a review and possible downgrade of the Action. This, being a precursor to a final delisting in accordance with international best practices.
“It is pertinent to state that the foregoing process is aimed at ensuring that before the final delisting, that activities, travel histories as well as current activities of these individuals are not in furtherance of and do not still conform with the reasons for the initial WLA,” it stated.
It said individuals affected by such watchlist entries are routinely engaged to determine whether the reasons for their inclusion still exist, with assessments covering their activities, travel history and other relevant records before a final delisting decision is made.
The DSS said Ndibe’s interaction with its operatives lasted less than an hour, after which he was cleared and escorted.
The Service also noted that several Nigerians, including journalists, have benefited from the exercise, citing the case of Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, whose name was removed from the watchlist in May 2025 after more than a decade.
Reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law and respect for citizens’ rights, the DSS said it would continue the review of old watchlist records and encouraged affected persons to formally contact its headquarters to facilitate the process.