ASUU: Police Arrest Two IMSU Officials Amid Indefinite Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone, has alleged that police arrested and detained two senior officials of its branch at Imo State University (IMSU) on Tuesday.
The officials were identified as the IMSU branch Vice Chairman, Chinedu Egbuchu, and Investment Secretary, Nnamdi Chibo.
The union said the two officials were arrested while monitoring compliance with the indefinite strike declared by the IMSU branch on Monday over the Imo State Government’s alleged failure to implement agreements reached with the union.
In a statement on Wednesday, ASUU Owerri Zonal Coordinator, Dennis Aribodor, said Egbuchu and Chibo were at the university’s Faculty of Media and Communication Studies when they encountered the institution’s Public Relations Officer.
According to the union, the officials met the PRO while examinations were ongoing at the faculty, but there was no confrontation or disagreement between them.
ASUU alleged that the situation changed when the university’s Chief Security Officer arrived and took the two officials to the institution’s security building, where police officers were already present.
The union said the officials were questioned and later taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where they were detained for more than seven hours.
It added that they were eventually released on bail after a N1 million bond was secured for each of them, with instructions to return to the State CID on August 18, 2026.
ASUU maintained that the IMSU branch was on a legitimate strike after meeting all the requirements for industrial action as approved by its National Executive Council.
The union said it had repeatedly raised concerns over the failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement at IMSU and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), the two state-owned universities under its Owerri Zone.
According to ASUU, more than five months after the implementation of the agreement began nationally, the two institutions had yet to implement it.
The union said it had previously called on the governments and university authorities in Imo and Anambra states to address the matter and prevent an industrial dispute, but its appeals were not acted upon.
It added that the IMSU branch issued a 21-day ultimatum before embarking on the indefinite strike, while a national visitation was also undertaken as part of efforts to resolve the dispute.
ASUU accused the university authorities of resorting to intimidation instead of addressing the issues that led to the strike.
“ASUU and her members can never be intimidated,” the union said, urging Governor Hope Uzodimma to direct the immediate implementation of the 2025 agreement at IMSU.
The union also warned the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chukwumaeze Uchefula, that it would hold him responsible if anything happened to its members or their families.
ASUU Demands Explanation for Arrest
The IMSU branch of ASUU also condemned the arrest and detention of Egbuchu and Chibo.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the branch Chairman, Stephen Oguji, said union officials should be allowed to perform their legitimate trade union duties without intimidation, harassment or unnecessary detention.
Oguji said any concerns about the officials’ conduct could have been addressed through dialogue and established institutional procedures rather than through arrest.
He said the union had asked the Imo State Government, IMSU management and security agencies to provide a clear explanation for the arrest and detention.
The chairman also called for assurances that ASUU members would not be victimised or intimidated for carrying out legitimate union activities.
He urged the government and university management to return to negotiations and focus on resolving the issues behind the ongoing strike.
According to him, the arrest of union officials could worsen tensions, deepen mistrust and make it more difficult for both sides to reach an agreement.
“We do not want confrontation. We want justice, respect and dialogue,” Oguji said.
He urged the authorities to create an atmosphere that would allow the union and the university management to return to the negotiating table and work towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
