The State Security Service (SSS) has denied arresting or detaining renowned writer and academic, Okey Ndibe, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, saying its interaction with him was part of a routine process to remove his name from a long-standing watch list.
The clarification came after Mr Ndibe disclosed on Facebook that he was detained by operatives of the agency at the airport on Thursday, prompting concern among friends, colleagues and supporters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the SSS said reports suggesting that Mr Ndibe was arrested were inaccurate.
According to the agency, Mr Ndibe had been on its watch list since 29 January 2013 but his case had recently been reviewed and downgraded as part of an ongoing exercise to reassess and sanitise old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some of which date back to the military era.
The SSS said its Director-General had ordered a review of historical watch-list records upon assuming office to prevent citizens from being unnecessarily embarrassed by outdated security alerts.
