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

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DSS clarified that its interaction with Ndibe was part of a routine administrative process aimed at reviewing and updating its watchlist records.

The agency said the current Director-General had ordered a review of long-standing watchlist entries, some dating back to the military era, to prevent unnecessary embarrassment to citizens.

According to the DSS, individuals on the watchlist are periodically invited for clarification and assessment as part of a standard review procedure that could lead to removal or downgrade of their status.

It explained that Ndibe had been on the watchlist since January 29, 2013, but his case had already been reviewed and downgraded prior to the airport encounter.

The Service said the interaction lasted less than an hour, after which he was cleared and escorted.

The DSS also noted that Ndibe himself acknowledged the professional conduct of its operatives during the encounter in a social media post.

It added that other Nigerians, including journalists, have benefited from similar review exercises, citing the case of media executive Lanre Arogundade, whose name was removed from the watchlist in 2025.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to due process and fair treatment of citizens, encouraging anyone affected by watchlist concerns to formally engage its headquarters for review.