Renowned Nigerian author and columnist, Okey Ndibe, has confirmed that he has been released after being held for more than three hours by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Ndibe disclosed the development in a Facebook post on Tuesday, where he expressed appreciation to friends, colleagues, associates and supporters who reached out after reports emerged about the incident.
The celebrated writer said he was grateful for the concern shown by many people following his encounter with security officials at the airport.
“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 describing the experience as a detention, Ndibe noted that the DSS personnel who interacted with him maintained a professional and respectful attitude throughout the engagement.
“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 author further explained that the news of the incident prompted an outpouring of support from individuals across different parts of the world. According to him, numerous phone calls and messages flooded in from concerned friends and admirers, although he was unable to respond immediately due to the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Ndibe reassured supporters that he was in good condition and remained optimistic despite the experience.
“In the coming days, I’ll find time to return more calls. But I want all to know that I am fine and in excellent spirits. I treasure your messages and gestures of friendship,” he stated.
However, the DSS has strongly disputed reports suggesting that Ndibe was arrested or detained at the airport.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the agency maintained that no arrest or detention took place.
“The Department of State Services hereby clarifies 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 said.
According to the DSS, the interaction with Ndibe formed part of an ongoing review of security watchlists initiated by the current Director-General. The agency explained that some of the records under review date back several decades, including entries established during the military era.
The Service stated that the review aims to eliminate outdated security alerts and prevent citizens from facing unnecessary inconvenience resulting from obsolete watch-list classifications.
The DSS further explained that individuals whose names appear on such lists are often invited for discussions as part of the verification process. The outcome of these engagements, according to the agency, may lead to the removal, modification or downgrading of a person’s watch-list status.
The agency therefore insisted that its interaction with Ndibe should not be interpreted as an arrest but rather as a routine administrative process connected to the broader review exercise.
The incident has generated public interest, particularly given Ndibe’s profile as a prominent author, commentator and public intellectual, with discussions continuing over the differing characterisations of the airport encounter by both the writer and the security agency.
