The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed reports alleging the arrest or detention of writer and academic Okey Ndibe at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 1, 2026.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the agency said the interaction with Ndibe was not an arrest but part of a routine administrative review of its watchlist.

The DSS explained that the current Director-General ordered a review of longstanding watchlist entries, some of which date back to the military era, to prevent unnecessary embarrassment to citizens due to outdated security alerts.

According to the Service, individuals previously placed on watchlists are routinely invited for interaction as part of a process that may lead to their removal or downgrading from such lists.

“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,” the statement said.

The DSS disclosed that Ndibe had been on its watchlist since January 29, 2013, but noted that his case had already been reviewed and downgraded ahead of the airport encounter.

It added that the interaction at the airport lasted less than an hour and ended with his clearance and escort by officials.

“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 agency stated.

The Service further claimed that Ndibe himself acknowledged the professional conduct of its operatives in a Facebook post following the incident.

It also cited ongoing reforms in its watchlist management system, noting that other Nigerians, including journalists, have benefited from similar reviews, such as the removal of International Press Centre Executive Director Lanre Arogundade in May 2025.

The DSS reiterated its commitment to lawful procedures, due process, and respect for citizens’ rights, adding that affected individuals can formally request review of their watchlist status through its headquarters.

Earlier reports had suggested that Ndibe was arrested and detained upon arrival in Nigeria, sparking concern among civil society groups and media stakeholders before the DSS clarification.