The Department of State Services (DSS) has rejected reports that its operatives arrested Okey Ndibe, author and public affairs analyst, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, on Monday.
A raft of reports had claimed on the day that personnel of
the secret police arrested and detained the professor after he touched down
from the United States.
In a statement on Tuesday, Favour Dozie, DSS deputy director
of public relations and strategic communications, said the essayist had been on
the watch-list actions (WLAs) since January 29, 2013.
Dozie said as part of the process for the final delisting of
Ndibe’s details, operatives interfaced with him at the airport.
“As part of the routine interface involved in the process,
after barely an hour of his interaction with the Service, he was cleared and
escorted,” Dozie said.
“Note 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 spokesperson said Adeola Ajayi, the agency’s
director-general (DG), had previously directed a review of old WLAs, some of
which dated back to the military era.
Dozie said those previously watchlisted are “routinely
interfaced with as a prerequisite for a review and possible downgrade of the
action”.
NDIBE REACTS
In a statement published via Facebook on Monday evening,
Ndibe confirmed his release.
He appreciated friends and acquaintances who showed concern.
The author said the two DSS officials who “interacted with
me were quite courteous throughout the three+ hours of my detention”.
“I’d like to confirm that I’ve been released,” he said.
“Dozens of people have called me from different parts of the
world, I was only able to speak to a few. 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.”
PREVIOUS BRUSHES WITH DSS
In 2011, Ndibe was detained at the Lagos airport by DSS
officials, with his passport seized.
He was later released and the passport returned.
In 2017, the DSS again arrested the Nigerian author.
In 2021, security agents tried to stop him from travelling
to the United States.
In an interview with Open County Mag in 2021, the critic
said he had been on the “list of targeted writers” in Nigeria since 2008.
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