By Daily Review Online
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly detained renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Prof. Okey Ndibe, upon his arrival in Nigeria from the United States.
Ndibe was said to have been detained on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The development was disclosed by former Anambra State Commissioner for Information, C. Don Adinuba, in a Facebook post. According to him, the incident is not the first time the US-based scholar has been subjected to detention by security operatives upon entering the country.
Adinuba alleged that similar incidents occurred during previous administrations because of Ndibe’s critical commentary on governance and national leadership.
He noted, however, that the professor has not actively written for Nigerian media outlets in the last two years, having focused primarily on teaching and book writing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, his alma mater.
According to Adinuba, previous detentions were resolved after airport-based DSS officials contacted their superiors in Abuja, leading to Ndibe’s release and subsequent apologies from the agency.
He expressed concern that the security service had allegedly failed to update its records to reflect that Ndibe was no longer considered a security concern.
In the Facebook statement, Adinuba said: “Prof. Okey Ndibe, the distinguished novelist, academic and public intellectual, arrived in Nigeria this morning from his base in the United States and is being detained by the State Security Services.
“The officials insist they are awaiting directives from higher authorities before releasing him.
“Prof. Ndibe has scheduled engagements and responsibilities in Nigeria that are now being disrupted by this detention.”
The statement further described the detention as a recurring form of harassment, alleging that previous incidents ended with apologies after significant inconvenience had already been caused.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS had not issued an official statement on the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s detention or whether he had been released.
Ndibe is widely known for his contributions to literature, journalism, and public discourse, both in Nigeria and internationally.