The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports that renowned author and academic, Prof. Okey Ndibe, was arrested or detained at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 1, 2026, insisting that the interaction with him was part of an ongoing process to review and remove names from its watchlist.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the DSS said Prof. Ndibe was merely engaged as part of procedures aimed at his eventual removal from a watchlist on which he had remained since January 29, 2013.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby clarifies that it did not arrest or detain Prof Okey Ndibe at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on June 1, 2026 or any other place on that date for that matter,” the statement said.
The Service explained that the current Director-General had ordered a comprehensive review of old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some dating back to the military era, to prevent citizens from being unnecessarily inconvenienced or embarrassed.
According to the DSS, individuals previously placed on watchlists are routinely invited for interaction as part of a process that could lead to a downgrade and eventual removal of the watchlist designation.
The agency said the exercise was designed to verify that the individuals’ current activities, travel history and engagements no longer align with the reasons that initially led to their inclusion on the watchlist.
“In the same vein, Prof Ndibe has been on Watchlist since January 29, 2013. Meanwhile, his case has been reviewed and downgraded. Thus, the interface with him at the airport was geared towards the final delisting of his details from the Action,” the DSS stated.
The Service added that the interaction lasted less than an hour, after which the professor was cleared and escorted.
“As part of the routine interface involved in the process, after barely an hour of his interaction with the Service, he was cleared and escorted,” it said.
The DSS further noted that Prof. Ndibe himself acknowledged the conduct of its operatives during the encounter.
“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 agency disclosed that several Nigerians, including journalists, had benefited from the ongoing review of watchlist records. It cited the case of Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), whose name was removed from the watchlist in May 2025 after more than a decade.
Reaffirming its commitment to fairness and due process, the DSS said the review exercise would continue in line with the law and urged affected citizens to formally report their cases to its national headquarters to facilitate the process.
“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,” it said.
