The State Security Service (SSS) has refuted claims that it arrested or detained renowned writer and academic Okey Ndibe at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, describing its engagement with him as part of a routine process aimed at removing his name from a long-standing security watch list.
The clarification followed Mr Ndibe’s disclosure on Facebook that he was detained by operatives of the agency at the airport on Thursday, a claim that sparked concern among colleagues, friends and supporters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the agency’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the SSS said reports suggesting that Mr Ndibe was arrested were inaccurate.
According to the agency, Mr Ndibe had been on its watch list since January 29, 2013. However, his case was recently reviewed and downgraded as part of an ongoing exercise to reassess and clean up old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some of which date back to Nigeria’s military era.
The SSS explained that its Director-General had ordered a review of historical watch-list records upon assuming office to prevent citizens from facing unnecessary embarrassment due to outdated security alerts. It noted that individuals whose names remain on such lists are routinely invited for engagement as part of the process leading to the review, downgrade and eventual removal of their records.
“In the same vein, Prof. Ndibe has been on the 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," the statement said.
The agency maintained that the interaction lasted less than an hour, after which Mr Ndibe was cleared and escorted.
However, Mr Ndibe offered a different account in a Facebook post following the incident, stating that he was held for more than three hours.
“I am so grateful for the expressions of concern by many friends, acquaintances and others over my detention earlier today by the DSS at Murtala Muhammed International Airport,” he wrote.
“The two agents who interacted with me were quite courteous throughout the three+ hours of my detention. I’d like to confirm that I’ve been released.”
Mr Ndibe added that he remained in good health and spirits and thanked those who contacted him from various parts of the world after news of the incident emerged.
Despite the conflicting accounts regarding the nature and duration of the encounter, both Mr Ndibe and the SSS agreed that the operatives involved conducted themselves professionally and courteously.
The SSS further stated that several Nigerians, including journalists, had benefited from the ongoing review of watch-list records. It cited the case of Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), whose name was removed from the watch list in May 2025 after remaining on it for more than a decade.
The agency urged Nigerians who suspect they may be affected by existing watch-list actions to contact its national headquarters to facilitate a review of their cases. It also assured the public that efforts to sanitise the watch-list system would continue.
“The process will continue to ensure that all Nigerians are fairly treated, with due regard to the provisions of the law,” the statement added.