The Department of State Services, DSS, has denied arresting or detaining Professor Okey Ndibe at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on June 1, 2026, saying the interaction with the scholar was part of a routine review of old Watch-List Actions, WLAs.
In a statement issued Tuesday by Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the Service said Ndibe, who has been on its watchlist since January 29, 2013, was only “interfaced with” at the airport to facilitate the final delisting of his details.
“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 read.
According to the DSS, the current Director-General directed a review of old WLAs dating back to the military era to prevent citizens from being “unduly embarrassed” due to pre-existing entries.
The Service said persons previously watchlisted are routinely engaged during transit as a prerequisite for review and possible downgrade before final delisting, in line with international best practices.
“The interface with him at the airport, was geared towards the final delisting of his details from the Action,” the DSS said. “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.”
The Service noted that Ndibe himself, in a Facebook post, referenced the “professional, courteous and decorous conduct of Service operatives” and their respect for the rule of law under the new leadership.
The DSS cited the case of Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, IPC, whose delisting was approved in May 2025 after over a decade on the watchlist, as an example of the ongoing clearance process.
It added that the review covers WLAs from the DSS as well as watchlist requests from other agencies, and reiterated its commitment to treating all Nigerians fairly in line with the law.
The Service urged citizens affected by DSS WLAs who wish to be cleared to formally report to its National Headquarters, while noting that the “attempt at hygiene regarding the WLA, will be sustained” even without formal requests.
Professor Ndibe, a U.S.-based Nigerian writer and columnist, had earlier reported the airport encounter on social media, prompting widespread speculation about an arrest.
