Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged citizens to learn combat skills for self-defence, citing the country’s growing security challenges.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, General Musa likened martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to everyday survival abilities like swimming and driving.
“Learning combat skills should be seen as a survival instinct, like swimming or driving,” Musa explained, adding that the value of such knowledge goes beyond times of war.
He pointed out that some countries make these skills compulsory.
“In Europe, swimming is compulsory. Learning and teaching about security (is compulsory) because you have to learn what security is,” the general said.
The CDS suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should include unarmed combat sessions in its orientation programme so graduates can be better prepared to defend themselves.
“The NYSC has been reduced to three weeks, but it should focus on training youths in self-defence,” he said, expressing concern over its current structure.
According to him, Nigerians need more than just awareness; they require practical skills to survive in an increasingly dangerous world.
“I think it is important that we are able to give every Nigerian security awareness at whatever level. Self-defence is very important. Unarmed combat. Swimming. Driving. These are critical aspects for human endeavours.
“These are things we should never take for granted because they prepare you for the future. The world we are in now is dangerous. We have individuals who don’t mean people well. They kill for whatever reason,” he said.
General Musa also called on Nigerians to take personal responsibility for their safety by staying alert and reporting suspicious behavior around them.
KanyiDaily recently reported that Canadian Embassy denied visas to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and several senior military officers due to a diplomatic error.