Defence Headquarters Clarifies CDS Remarks On Self-Protection
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed claims that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, called on Nigerians to bear arms.
In a statement issued on Friday, DHQ said General Musa’s comments during a Channels Television interview were being “deliberately misrepresented.”
The CDS, according to the statement, had merely urged citizens to develop basic survival and self-protection skills such as unarmed combat, swimming, boxing, judo and taekwondo—likening them to everyday life skills like driving.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, stressed that the CDS was fully aware of Nigerian laws against unauthorised possession of firearms and had no intention of encouraging illegality.
“The message was to promote resilience, situational awareness and lawful preparedness—not unlawful possession of weapons,” Gusau clarified.
The DHQ further noted that the Armed Forces and other security agencies continue to record “significant successes” in tackling insecurity, assuring Nigerians that their safety remains the government’s top priority.
It urged the public to rely on verified reports when interpreting public statements and avoid spreading “distorted or misleading accounts.”