The Department of State Services (DSS) has provided clarification regarding the incident involving Professor Okey Ndibe at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, emphasizing that the service has initiated a review of its watchlist to ensure that individuals are not subjected to unlawful embarrassment.
The clarification comes after Ndibe confirmed his release by DSS operatives at the airport. In a statement released on X, the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications at the DSS National Headquarters, Favour Dozie, explained that following the review, all individuals previously placed on the watchlist while in transit are routinely engaged as part of the process to assess and potentially downgrade the action.
Dozie stated: “The DSS hereby clarifies that it did not arrest or detain Professor Okey Ndibe at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on June 1, 2026, or at any other location on that date.” The agency urged citizens affected by the Service Watchlist Action (WLA) who wish to do so to formally report to the National Headquarters to facilitate the ongoing review process.
In a Facebook post confirming his release, Ndibe wrote that he was held for more than three hours at the Lagos airport. The renowned author expressed gratitude to friends, acquaintances, and well-wishers who expressed concern following reports of the incident. “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.
Despite the experience, Ndibe noted that the DSS officers who interacted with him conducted themselves professionally throughout the period. “The two agents who interacted with me were quite courteous throughout the three-plus hours of my detention. I’d like to confirm that I’ve been released,” he added. The writer revealed that he received numerous calls from supporters and associates across different parts of the world after news of the incident spread, though he was unable to respond to most of them immediately.
Kila Condemns Incident
Meanwhile, Professor Anthony Kila, a professor of Strategy and Development and Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), has described the reported detention of Ndibe as vulgar, vexatious, and worrisome. In a statement made available to The Guardian, Kila expressed concern about what he described as an outdated tendency to subject scholars, writers, and public intellectuals to avoidable harassment, arguing that such actions project an image of inefficiency and misplaced priorities.
According to Kila, detaining an internationally respected writer and intellectual is not merely an affront to an individual but a troubling signal about how a society values knowledge, talent, and critical thinking. The academic argued that the incident raised broader questions about the quality of information management and coordination within the nation’s security architecture.
Kila noted that security agencies ought to direct their attention and resources to addressing genuine threats to public safety rather than creating unnecessary difficulties for citizens, particularly individuals known for their intellectual and professional contributions. He further questioned the rationale for detaining citizens in situations where there was no immediate threat to public safety, arguing that such actions would contribute to a culture of anxiety and mistrust between citizens and public institutions.
