The Department of State Services (DSS) has broken its silence on the controversial stoppage of US-based Nigerian journalist, poet and author, Prof. Okey Ndibe, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, saying the incident was part of a routine security procedure rather than an arrest or detention.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, dismissed suggestions that the agency was reverting to an era of arbitrary arrests and harassment of critics, insisting that Ndibe was merely invited for an interaction with operatives.
- PROF. NDIBE
According to the DSS, the renowned academic had been placed on a Watch-List Action (WLA), a security classification currently undergoing review under the leadership of the Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi. The agency maintained that the brief stop was intended to facilitate that engagement and not to restrict his freedom.
FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT:
“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 current DG of the Service, upon assumption of duty, directed a review of old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some of which date back to the Military Era. This is to ensure that citizens are not unduly embarrassed due to pre-existing WLAs.
“In this regard, all those who had previously been watchlisted while on transit, are routinely interfaced with as a prerequisite for a review and possible downgrade of the Action. This, being a precursor to a final delisting in accordance with international best practices. It is pertinent to state that the foregoing process is aimed at ensuring that before the final delisting, that activities, travel histories as well as current activities of these individuals are not in furtherance of and do not still conform with the reasons for the initial WLA.
“Suffice to point out that since the inception of the current Management , many Nigerians, including journalists have benefited from this process. This is despite the fact that the Service conducts this clearance to take care of Watch List requests from other Agencies. A case in point is that 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.
“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. 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. Note that, 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 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 DSS therefore urges citizens affected by the Service WLA, who wish, to formally report same to the National Headquarters to facilitate ongoing process. However, regardless of any formal request, the attempt at hygiene regarding the WLA, will be sustained.”
