DSS Clarifies Okey Ndibe's Airport Encounter Was Not Arrest

The Department of State Services (DSS) clarified that renowned author and academic Okey Ndibe was not arrested or detained during an encounter at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 1, 2026. The DSS stated that the interaction was part of an ongoing process to review and potentially remove names from a watchlist, which Ndibe has been on since January 29, 2013.

The agency explained that the current director-general ordered a comprehensive review of the old watchlist, which dates back to the military era, to prevent unnecessary inconvenience to citizens. The DSS noted that Ndibe was engaged in a routine interface and was escorted by officials during the process.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to fair treatment and due process, mentioning that several individuals, including journalists, have benefited from the ongoing review, with some names removed from the watchlist as recently as May 2025.