LAGOS, NIGERIA — The State Security Service (SSS) has officially responded to the national outrage and developing situation regarding the intercept of distinguished author and academic, Professor Okey Ndibe, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The SSS has confirmed that Professor Ndibe has been cleared and escorted out of the airport after a brief interface.
Official Stance: A Routine “Watch-List” Sanitization
In an official statement released by Favour Dozie, the SSS Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, the intelligence agency pushed back against reports characterizing the interaction as a hostile arrest or prolonged detention.
According to the SSS, the encounter lasted less than an hour and was strictly part of an administrative cleanup of legacy security records.
| Detail | SSS Official Account |
|---|---|
| Current Status | Released / Fully Cleared |
| Duration of Interface | Under 1 hour |
| Original Watch-List Date | January 29, 2013 |
| Action Taken | Downgraded and prepared for final removal |
Cleansing Outdated Security Records
The SSS explained that its newly appointed Director-General recently ordered a comprehensive review of historical watch-list records—some of which date back to past administrations, to prevent citizens and high-profile figures from facing unnecessary embarrassment at entry points.
“Prof. Ndibe has been on the Watchlist since January 29, 2013. Meanwhile, his case has been reviewed and downgraded. Thus, the interface with him at the airport was geared towards the final delisting of his details from the Action.” — Favour Dozie, SSS Deputy Director of Public Relations
The agency emphasized that passengers whose names remain on these legacy registries are routinely engaged briefly by officers to finalize the formal downgrade and removal process.
What This Means for Prof. Ndibe
With the interface concluded, the security flag that has caused Professor Ndibe repetitive travel disruptions over the last decade is reportedly being wiped from the national security database. The academic is now fully free to proceed with his time-bound professional duties, workshops, and literary engagements across Nigeria.
ABT NEWS will continue monitoring the situation to ensure no further disruptions occur during his stay in the country.
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