DSS Denies Arresting Okey Ndibe, Says Airport Interaction Was Part of Watchlist Review Process
DSS Denies Arresting Okey Ndibe, Says Airport Interaction Was Part of Watchlist Review Process
The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed reports that it arrested or detained renowned writer and academic, Professor Okey Ndibe, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 1, 2026, clarifying that the interaction was part of an ongoing review of longstanding security watchlists.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the Service said Prof. Ndibe was neither arrested nor detained at the airport or anywhere else on the date in question.
According to the DSS, the current Director-General of the Service had, upon assuming office, ordered a comprehensive review of old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some of which date back to the military era, to prevent citizens from facing unnecessary embarrassment due to outdated security records.
The Service explained that individuals previously placed on watchlists are routinely engaged during transit as part of a review process aimed at assessing whether their names should be downgraded or removed entirely from the list.
It noted that the exercise is conducted in line with international best practices and seeks to ascertain that the activities, travel histories and current engagements of affected individuals no longer align with the reasons that initially warranted their inclusion on the watchlist.
“The process is intended to ensure that before final delisting, the activities and travel histories of affected persons are reviewed to confirm that they do not still conform with the circumstances that led to the original watch-list action,” the statement said.
The DSS disclosed that many Nigerians, including journalists and civil society actors, have benefited from the review exercise since the inception of the current management.
As an example, the Service cited the case of Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), whose name was removed from the watchlist in May 2025 after remaining on it for more than a decade.
The agency revealed that Prof. Ndibe had been on its watchlist since January 29, 2013, but that his case had already been reviewed and downgraded prior to the airport encounter.
According to the DSS, the interaction at the airport was intended to facilitate the final stage of the delisting process.
The Service said the engagement lasted less than one hour, after which Prof. Ndibe was cleared and escorted accordingly.
It further noted that the academic himself acknowledged the professionalism, courtesy and decorum displayed by DSS operatives during the encounter, as reflected in his social media comments.
“Even on his Facebook post, he referenced the professional, courteous and decorous conduct of Service operatives, who continue to scale their respect for the rule of law and human rights under the new leadership,” the statement added.
The DSS reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all Nigerians are treated fairly and in accordance with the law, stressing that the review of watchlist records would continue as part of efforts to modernise and sanitise the system.
The agency also encouraged individuals who believe they may still be affected by existing watch-list actions to formally contact its national headquarters to facilitate the review process.
However, it emphasized that the ongoing effort to clean up outdated watchlist records would continue regardless of whether affected persons submit formal requests.
“The Service reiterates that this process will continue to ensure that all Nigerians are fairly treated, with due regard to the provisions of the law,” the statement said.
By TimesNG