ASUU condemns arrest of leaders amid ongoing strike in Imo State

The Owerri Zone Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Imo State has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of two senior officials from the Imo State University (IMSU) branch. The union reported that Chinedu Egbuchu, the vice-chairman, and Nnamdi Chibo, the Investment Secretary, were taken into custody by police on Tuesday.

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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.

According to a statement released by ASUU Zonal Coordinator Dennis Aribodor, the officials were apprehended while observing compliance with an ongoing industrial action at the university's Faculty of Media and Communication Studies. ASUU stated there was no confrontation with the university's public relations officer present at the scene. However, the situation escalated when the Chief Security Officer intervened, escorting the ASUU officials to the university's security building where police were waiting.

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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 detained officials were questioned and subsequently taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID). They were held for over seven hours before being granted bail, each requiring a N1 million bond. They were also instructed to report back to the State CID on August 18, 2026.

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

ASUU maintains that the strike at IMSU is legitimate, having fulfilled all necessary conditions as approved by the union's National Executive Council. The union highlighted previous efforts, including a press conference and national visitations, to urge university administrators and state governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Charles Soludo (Anambra) to implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement. ASUU asserts that intimidation is not the appropriate response and calls for the implementation of the agreement to resolve the industrial disharmony.

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