“Every Nigerian Should Learn Combat Skills for Survival” Says Defence Chief
In a stark reminder of the country’s worsening security threats, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged citizens to acquire combat skills as part of basic survival training.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, General Musa likened martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo and Judo to everyday life skills like driving and swimming, stressing that Nigerians must be prepared for self-defence in a dangerous world.
“The world we are in now is dangerous. We have individuals who don’t mean people well. They kill for whatever reason,” he warned, adding that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should be repositioned to train graduates in unarmed combat, swimming and security awareness.
General Musa also raised an alarm that terrorists are increasingly funding their operations through gold, using sophisticated international networks that make tracking and prosecution difficult.
On the military’s response to banditry and terrorism, he admitted that poor road networks, harsh terrains, and communication gaps often slow down operations, despite public expectations of quick interventions.
“A lot of people think the military is magicians; we are not, we are humans just like anybody,” he said, explaining that insurgents exploit mobility and poor infrastructure to strike and vanish within minutes.
Despite the challenges, General Musa assured Nigerians that troops remain relentless in pursuing insurgents until they are decisively defeated.
