The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed reports that it arrested or detained Professor Okey Ndibe at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on June 1.
The Service, in a statement on Tuesday by Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, said it was “setting the records straight” on reports of the alleged arrest of Ndibe.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to clarify 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 statement read.
The DSS said the current Director-General, on taking office, ordered a review of old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some of which date back to the military era, to ensure that citizens are not unduly embarrassed because of existing watchlist records.
The Service said that individuals who have been placed on watchlists while in transit are regularly interfaced as part of a review process that may lead to a downgrade of the action and eventual removal from the watchlist.
“This is a precursor to a final delisting in line with international best practices,” DSS said.
The process is intended to ensure that the activities, travel histories and current engagements of those affected no longer correspond to the reasons they were placed on the watchlist in the first place, the agency said.
The DSS said many Nigerians among them journalists have benefited from the exercise. It cited the case of Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), who was delisted in May 2025 after being on the watchlist for over a decade.
The Service said Prof Ndibe had been on its watchlist since January 29, 2013 but his case has since been reviewed and downgraded.
“Like that, Prof Ndibe has been on Watchlist since January 29, 2013. Meanwhile his case has been reappraised and downgraded. “Hence the contact with him at the airport, was aimed at the final delisting of his details from the Action,” the statement said.
It said Ndibe was cleared and escorted after “barely an hour” of interacting with DSS officials.
The agency also said that Ndibe himself admitted to the conduct of its personnel, saying 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 DSS said again that the review would continue to ensure that all Nigerians are treated fairly and according to the law.
The Service also encouraged citizens who believe they have been impacted by a Watch-List Action to formally reach-out to the National Headquarters to help with the ongoing review process. The Service assured the public that efforts to clean up and update the watchlist system would continue.
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