DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport
Popular Nigerian novelist, journalist and academic, Okey Ndibe was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) after arriving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday morning.
The development was disclosed by his close associate and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, who said Ndibe was stopped by DSS operatives shortly after landing and held for several hours.
According to Adinuba, the novelist’s detention has occurred repeatedly over the years due to his critical commentaries on Nigeria’s political leadership. He noted that similar incidents dated back to the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, although Ndibe was usually released after airport officials contacted their superiors in Abuja.
Adinuba expressed surprise over the latest detention, arguing that Ndibe has not been actively involved in Nigerian journalism in the last two years, having focused on writing books and teaching at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the United States.
He criticized the security agency for allegedly failing to update its records, claiming that officials had previously apologized to Ndibe after similar detentions.
Confirming the incident in a text message, Ndibe reportedly said he had been with the security agency for more than an hour while officers awaited clearance from senior officials before releasing him.
Another journalist and poet, Maxim Uzoatu, also condemned the detention, describing it as an unnecessary disruption to Ndibe’s planned engagements in Nigeria. He noted that previous incidents had ended with apologies from security officials after the academic had been held for extended periods.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS had not issued any official statement explaining the reason for Ndibe’s detention.
