Academic staff at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, have raised alarms about threats to their lives amid escalating tensions over the appointment of the institution’s Vice Chancellor. The crisis erupted following the expiration of Prof. Charles Esimone’s tenure on June 4, leaving the university in turmoil.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter and over 400 professors are contesting the leadership of Prof. Bernard Odoh, who currently holds the position. According to the union, Odoh’s qualifications are in question. “He is not a professor but a doctor,” ASUU alleged.
Reports indicate that the situation has taken a dangerous turn, with members claiming they are being targeted by unidentified gunmen. Suspicious vehicles, including a red Corolla (2006 model) and tinted Sienna cars, have been spotted near the ASUU secretariat, allegedly trailing union members.
Amid growing fear, academic activities at the university have been paralyzed, and many lecturers have gone into hiding. “We are not safe. Gunmen are after us, and our lives are under threat,” a source within ASUU revealed.
The union has reportedly filed petitions with the police and other security agencies, urging swift intervention. Despite the growing security concerns, no official statement has been issued by the university management regarding the allegations or the leadership dispute.
This crisis has left NAU, an institution named after Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, in a state of uncertainty, with calls for a resolution growing louder.
