ASUU reacts to arrest of its leaders during strike

The Owerri Zone Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Imo State has said that police arrested and detained two top officials from the Imo State University (IMSU) on Tuesday.

The Owerri Zone chapter of ASUU supervises IMSU in Imo State and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Anambra State.

In a statement on Wednesday from ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Dennis Aribodor, the union named the arrested officials as Chinedu Egbuchu, the vice-chairman of the IMSU branch, and Nnamdi Chibo, its Investment Secretary.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the IMSU branch of ASUU declared a total and indefinite strike at the university on Monday. This was due to the Imo State Government’s failure to honor agreements made with the union.

In the Wednesday statement, ASUU explained that the two officials were arrested while they were checking how the strike was being followed at the university’s Faculty of Media and Communication Studies.

“Information available to us indicates that the two executive members met the IMSU’s public relations officer at the faculty, where examinations were being conducted.

“There was no altercation or confrontation between the ASUU officials and the public relations officer.

“However, the situation changed when the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the university arrived at the scene and physically took the Vice Chairman, Chinedu Egbuchu, and the Investment Secretary to the university’s security building, where police officers were already stationed,” the statement says in part.

“They were questioned and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where they were detained for over seven hours. Their bail was secured at N1 million bond each, with a directive to return to the State CID on Tuesday, 18 August 2026.”

ASUU stated that the IMSU branch of the union “is on a legitimate strike” after meeting all conditions for the strike’s start, as approved by the National Executive Council.

The union recalled that the zonal chapter had held a press conference to inform the public that, more than five months after starting to implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, it had not been implemented at IMSU and COOU, the two state-owned universities in ASUU Owerri Zone.

It said the union had also called on the universities' administrators, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, and his Anambra State counterpart, Charles Soludo, to start the implementation to avoid problems, but they got no response.

“Our Branch in IMSU issued a 21-Day ultimatum, and nothing was done. This was followed by a national visitation by our union, all to prevent the strike.

“Now that the strike has started, what we expect from the administration of Imo State University is not intimidation.

“ASUU and its members can never be intimidated. Instead, the relevant authorities, including the Visitor to Imo State University, should stop the strike by implementing the 2025 Agreement,” it stated.

ASUU warned IMSU Vice-Chancellor, Chukwumaeze Uchefula, a professor, that it would hold him responsible if anything happened to any of its members or their families. They insisted that their demands are for his good and that of the university.

“There is no need for intimidation, and our union cannot give in to intimidation.

“We repeat our demand to the Visitor of Imo State University, Governor Hope Uzodimma, to direct the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement in Imo State University without any delay,” the statement added.

The IMSU branch of ASUU has also condemned the arrest and detention of Chinedu Egbuchu and Nnamdi Chibo.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Chairman of the IMSU branch of ASUU, Stephen Oguji, said that union officials need to carry out their legitimate duties without intimidation, harassment or unnecessary detention.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained the press conference text on Wednesday evening.

“If there were concerns about their conduct, those concerns could have been addressed through dialogue and established procedures,” Mr Oguji said.

The chairman stated that the union has asked the Imo State Government, the management of IMSU, and security operatives “to provide a clear and transparent explanation for the arrest and detention” of the ASUU officials.

According to him, the union has asked them to ensure that ASUU officials would not be intimidated or victimized for doing legitimate union work. They also called for no further actions that could escalate tensions within the university.

“Return immediately to meaningful dialogue and negotiation on the main issues causing the ongoing dispute,” he urged the state government and IMSU management.

Mr Oguji called on authorities to make sure that the arrest and detention of the officials would not disrupt efforts toward a peaceful resolution.

“The arrest of union officials can only deepen mistrust, heighten tension, and make negotiation harder.

“It risks taking attention away from the real issues in dispute and prolonging the disruption to students and staff. We do not want confrontation. We want justice, respect, and dialogue,” he said.

“We therefore urge the university management and government to show good faith by creating an atmosphere where both parties can return to the negotiating table without fear or intimidation.