The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports that renowned Nigerian author and public affairs analyst Okey Ndibe was arrested at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport upon his arrival from the United States.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the interaction with Ndibe was part of a routine process linked to a longstanding watchlist record and not an arrest.

The clarification followed widespread reports on Monday claiming that DSS operatives had arrested and detained the professor shortly after he landed in Nigeria.

TheCable reported that Dozie said Ndibe had remained on the agency’s watch-list actions since January 29, 2013. He explained that security operatives engaged with the author as part of the final process of reviewing and potentially removing his details from the list.

“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 DSS spokesperson said.

Dozie added that the agency’s Director-General, Adeola Ajayi, had ordered a review of old watchlist records, including some dating back to the military era. He noted that individuals previously placed on such lists are routinely engaged as part of a review process that could lead to the downgrading or removal of the watchlist action.

The DSS also pointed to Ndibe’s own social media comments, where he described the conduct of the operatives as professional and courteous.

Ndibe confirms release

In a Facebook statement published on Monday evening, Ndibe confirmed that he had been released and thanked friends, colleagues and supporters who reached out after reports of his detention emerged.

The author said the two DSS officials who interacted with him were courteous throughout what he described as more than three hours of detention.

“I’d like to confirm that I’ve been released,” Ndibe wrote, adding that he remained in good health and high spirits despite the incident.

History of security agency encounters

Ndibe has had several previous encounters with Nigerian security agencies.

In 2011, he was detained at Lagos airport and had his passport seized before being released. In 2017, the DSS again arrested and later released him.

The author also disclosed that security agents attempted to prevent him from travelling to the United States in 2021. In an interview that year, he said he had been on a list of targeted writers in Nigeria since 2008.

The latest development has renewed attention on the use of watchlists by security agencies and ongoing efforts by the DSS leadership to review legacy records.