The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone, has condemned the arrest and detention of two executive members of its Imo State University (IMSU) branch while monitoring the ongoing strike at the institution.
The union identified the affected officials as Comrade Chinedu Egbuchu, Vice Chairperson, and Comrade Nnamdi Chibo, Investment Secretary of the ASUU-IMSU branch.
In a press conference statement on Wednesday, South East zone coordinator of ASUU, Dennis Aribodor and the IMSU chairperson of ASUU , Stephen Oguji.said the two officials were at the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies of the university to monitor activities and take notes when they were arrested.
According to the union, the officials had met the university’s Public Relations Officer at the faculty, where examinations were being conducted, but there was no confrontation or altercation between them.
ASUU alleged that the situation changed after the university’s Chief Security Officer arrived at the scene and took the two officials to the university’s security building, where police officers were stationed.
The union said the two officials were subsequently taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where they were questioned and detained for more than seven hours.
It added that they were later released on bail of N1 million each and directed to return to the State CID on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
ASUU described the development as an attempt at intimidation, insisting that its members were engaged in legitimate trade-union activities while monitoring the strike.
The union maintained that the IMSU branch embarked on the strike after fulfilling the conditions required for its commencement as approved by the National Executive Council of ASUU.
The Owerri Zone also linked the industrial action to the alleged non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria-ASUU Agreement at IMSU.
According to the union, it had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum to the university authorities and undertaken a national visitation in an effort to resolve the issues and avert the strike.
ASUU said that rather than intimidation, the relevant authorities, including the Visitor to the university, Governor Hope Uzodimma, should address the dispute by implementing the agreement.
The union further called on the Imo State Government, IMSU management and security authorities to provide a clear explanation for the arrest and detention of the two executives and guarantee that union officials would not be victimised for carrying out legitimate union activities.
It also urged all parties to return to meaningful dialogue and negotiation on the issues responsible for the ongoing dispute.
The union warned that the arrest of its officials could deepen mistrust and heighten tension within the university, potentially prolonging the disruption to academic activities and further affecting students.
ASUU Owerri Zone appealed to IMSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze, SAN, to avoid actions capable of escalating the situation, while reiterating that its struggle was aimed at improving the university.
The union also renewed its call on Governor Uzodimma, as Visitor to IMSU, to direct the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement at the university without further delay.“We do not want confrontation. We want justice, respect and dialogue,” the union said, stressing that students remained the greatest victims of a prolonged industrial dispute.
ASUU urged the university management and government to create an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and peaceful resolution of the crisis, saying, “Let implementation replace confrontation and intimidation.”
